Editor:
On the morning of April 27, while travelling in heavy traffic to YVR, we were involved in a serious rear-end collision in the George Massey Tunnel.
While braking hard to avoid a container truck, our taxi was rear ended twice. We were both injured in the collision and all three vehicles were written off.
Recalling the terrible accident several years ago in which a man was burned to death in the tunnel, I lost no time instructing the drivers involved to get the vehicles out of the tunnel. I was concerned about a secondary collision and one of the vehicles appeared to be smoking.
Fortunately we all made it out of the tunnel without further injury and firefighters, paramedics and RCMP attended.
A day never goes by without a serious accident and the ensuing chaos. How much longer must we risk our lives travelling in this obsolete tunnel? It should come as no surprise to see the tunnel make it to number 10 on the worst roads list recently compiled by BCAA.
Lighting seems to be one of the biggest problems in the tunnel. When travelling behind two trucks side by side it is very difficult to see a vehicle travelling behind those trucks.
It may be some time before we will see an upgraded tunnel. In the meantime here are some very simple measures that should be taken to immediately minimize the hazards at minimal cost and should reduce accidents and injury and the resulting traffic congestion:
1. Replace the patchy lighting with a continuous strip lighting system to eliminate distracting lights and dark spots.
2. Move the lighting to an overhead position for better coverage. The present lighting seems to light the ceiling well but fails to light the roadway.
3. Paint the walls and ceiling white so vehicles are more visibly outlined and increase the definition of the side walls.
4. Install easily accessed fire extinguishers and sprinkler system.
Failing to take these simple measures would be irresponsible. Paint it, light it and, if there is a fire, put it out. Given the scale of the proposed developments currently planned for South Delta, the negligent attitude toward the tunnel needs to come to an end.
Mike McConnell
