Motorists arriving in Cochrane will have likely noticed the slower speed limits as they descend the hill on Highway 1A into town.
Following two recent motor vehicle accidents involving large trucks descending the hill, on June 1, the Town of Cochrane temporarily lowered the speed limit for vehicles coming down the hill from 80 kilometres-an-hour (km/h) to 60 km/h, and then again down to 50 km/h.
The adjustment is an effort to ensure the safety of both drivers and the construction crews working at the bottom of the hill. It's a decision that, of course, had both supporters and critics. On social media, a few commenters decried the speed reduction as a knee-jerk reaction that would worsen traffic congestion – which is already terrible in that part of town for much of the day. Some called it a speed trap, while others argued there should have been more consultation with traffic engineers before implementing the lower speeds.
Some, however, brought up a valuable point: that a brake check at the top of the hill for large commercial vehicles would improve public safety and be the best way to avoid incidents like we saw May 20 and 24.
Given the two recent accidents involving commercial vehicles, our newsroom would argue in favour of the installation of a designated brake check zone, depending on its feasibility. Stopping and inspecting heavy trucks before they descend the top of the big hill would help reduce the risk of an accident by ensuring they are travelling a bit slower when they crest the hill, rather than the 80 km/h they may have been travelling at before.
Staff from the Town told us they have requested Alberta Transportation investigate the feasibility of setting up a designated brake check pull-out at the top of the hill. Hopefully a practical and positive solution emerges from that investigation, and Cochrane can avoid future accidents involving large commercial vehicles at the bottom of the big hill.
