Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adel Ahmed

Highway Safety

Politicians, residents look for answers after spate of tragic collisions on Highway 5 north

Feb 14, 2023 | 4:17 PM

KAMLOOPS — The seemingly endless number of collisions on the Yellowhead Highway has raised more concerns about road safety along the highway. Some residents in the District of Barriere suggest adding a dual speed zone. However, the BC Truckers Association says otherwise.

“Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but the baseline issue is enforcement,” said President and CEO of the BC Truckers Association Dave Earle.

“We can have all the speed limits we want in the world but it’s a matter of how we embed that in the motoring community — both in the commercial and in the light vehicle community.”

In addition, drivers at a local truck stop in Kamloops say more attention needs to be paid to highway conditions.

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“I think the driver’s attitude has changed. Being an instructor, the very first thing I teach is respect the road and respect the distances between other vehicles,” said one truck driver.

Furthermore, the opposition B.C. Liberals say the government has not invested enough money into construction.

“I think the tragic incidents that we have seen that have occurred in recent history are saying, ‘no,'” B.C. Liberal Transportation Critic Trevor Halford told CFJC Today. “More investment needs to be made and it needs to be made yesterday.”

The BCTA says it is having ongoing discussions with the province and Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement in order to find solutions to reduce the number of accidents along the highway and ultimately make it more safe for all vehicles.

CFJC Today reached out to Transportation Minister Rob Fleming for comment, but he was not available ahead of our deadline.