Collisions

BikeMaps.org is a crowd sourced map of cycling collision data worldwide. Incidents of collisions, near misses, hazards and thefts can be entered via the web site or through the free Android or Apple apps. The data collected is available to all. If you choose to register and log in, it will even alert you to recent incidents mapped in your area.

This case is another example of how a series of choices led to a collision. Merritt Towing parked a tow truck on the left side of the divided highway, partially encroaching on the travelled lane, without placing warnings. The angle of the sun and the reflections off of the wet pavement seriously affected the forward vision of drivers at that location. The driver that hit the parked tow truck and been following a large commercial vehicle and chose to pass it on the left instead of on the right.

Cody Andrews and Barry McKenna were driving northbound on Highway 1 between Hutchinson and Chapman Roads in Cobble Hill. Mr. McKenna was operating a motorcycle in the left lane intending to make a left turn onto Hutchinson and Mr. Andrews was driving his sportscar in the right lane. When Mr. Andrews moved to the left lane, they collided.

Question: I was driving at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and the Cambie Street on ramp in Vancouver. I turned right on a green light to head onto Cambie Street. I did not have to yield to any pedestrians as they were being held by the pedestrian signal. I moved about 20 feet into turn and my car was struck on the passenger side by a bicyle rider doing full speed.

If you come across a crash during your travels, please keep this advice in mind: Stop, Look, Listen and THEN Report Collisions. Taking a few moments to gather information can be a big help to both the victims and the emergency services.

Kristian Thanas was riding his bicycle southbound in a marked cycling lane on Burrard Street in Vancouver. He noticed a car driven by Joseph Long traveling alongside him with it's right turn signal on as they approached the intersection of Pacific Avenue. Mr. Thanas thought that Mr. Long had neglected to cancel his signal as a right turn at the intersection was not permitted.

This case involves a Shaw Cablesystems van driven by Mauricio Batin and a motorized wheelchair driven by Najafholi Nikkhah at the intersection of Queens Avenue and 8th Street in New Westminster. Mr. Batin was driving along Queens Avenue to make a right turn at 8th Steet and Mr. Nikkhah was using the marked crosswalk on 8th Avenue to cross Queens Avenue. Mr. Batin did not see Mr. Nikkhah and a collision resulted.

Over the 11 years ending in 2017 an average of about 5,762 wildlife collisions were noted in the Wildlife Accident Reporting System each year. The data is provided by BC's road maintenance contractors. I suspect that this number is not the entire picture as some animals are able to struggle away from the collision scene and die unnoticed. One estimate places this number at 12,000 annually.

Here is an interesting document from our friends Down Under at the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC): Understanding Pedestrian Crashes in Victoria. Chances are good that the information presented is equally applicable here in British Columbia.

This case arises from a two vehicle collision that occurred at the intersection of 200 Street and 62 Avenue in Surrey. It involves a car driven southbound on 200 Street, turning left onto 62 Avenue and a car driven northbound on 200 Street in the right hand or curb lane. Traffic in the left and middle lanes of 200 Street northbound was at a standstill due to congestion.