Dear Sir
The February collision in which a motorist ignored a stop sign at Dorchester and King, bounced off another vehicle and hit a stroller, sending two toddlers to hospital, was alarming but not a surprise. Many of us have seen near-collisions at this and other intersections along King because the system of alternating two-way stop signs just is not what today's motorists expect.
Drivers who are not local, or not paying close attention, expect either to have the right of way completely on what feels like a more important street, or that any stop is a four-way stop. Of course I come to a full stop at four-way signs and I'm sure all your readers do too, but it does happen that drivers slow down only a bit, judge that they'll get to the “stop” line before the other fellow, and barrel on through.
It is this behaviour that comes into conflict with reality at King and Dorchester, Emperor, Summerville and Trenton. Somebody thinks the other fellow is slowing down too — and he isn't.
Should we make every intersection along King a four-way stop? Should we put all the two-way stops the other way so that the cross streets always yield to King? Are these solutions any better than the current situation?
Community input is welcome. As a member of the Carlington Community Association executive, I've asked the president to put this subject on the agenda for our April meeting. That's Tuesday April 10 at 7 p.m. at Carlington Community and Health Services, 900 Merivale Road. If there is agreement on what changes to ask for, we can petition the City for them.
Sincerely,.
Frances Tanner.