Vancouver police are teaming up with other police agencies, the B.C. government and ICBC to kick off their month-long campaign to cut back on high-risk driving.
Officers were at the intersection of 44th Avenue and Alberta Street to educate drivers this morning.
During this month, officers will be keeping an eye out for drivers who fail to yield to other drivers and pedestrians, follow too closely and drive at excessive speeds.
Police say these types of offences contribute to many collisions that result in injuries or fatalities.
Particularly when it comes to left-hand turns at an intersection controlled by traffic lights, they say – don’t rush, yield to oncoming traffic, including cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.
Don’t panic if the light turns yellow while you’re waiting to make a left-hand turn. You’re legally allowed to complete your turn if you’re already in the intersection, but watch for approaching vehicles, especially for drivers trying to beat the red light.
To determine whether the gap in traffic is enough to allow for a safe left-hand turn, consider the speed of oncoming vehicles, the time it will take to complete the turn and accelerate to the speed of traffic. If there is any doubt about who has the right-of-way or if there is any chance of a crash, it’s always better to yield to the other person.
Always yield to pedestrians and follow directions from crossing guards and traffic control.
When crossing a bike lane to turn right or to pull to the side of the road, be sure to signal well ahead and yield to cyclists.
Always yield to emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights and sirens. All traffic moving in both directions must stop.
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