Caution urged to highway travellers ahead of busy long weekend

According to ICBC, an average of two people die in car crashes every August long weekend.

“Our ICBC data tells us that during July and August, driver fatigue, fatalities and injuries increased by 50 per cent as compared to the other months throughout the year,” explained ICBC Road Safety Coordinator, Ingrid Brakop.

In the Southern Interior, Brakop says about 78 people are injured this long weekend, in about 350 collisions.

“Obviously these collisions can be mitigated and that’s why we’re just reminding drivers to be smart while you’re driving and self-regulate a little bit,” said Brakop.

“Just be smart, you probably have precious cargo. You’re probably going to a really fun place,” she added.

“And then you’re, of course, sharing the road with all sorts of other community members, so you want to keep the people that you’re sharing the road with safe as well.”

Drivers are encouraged to stay up to date on road conditions and closures, keep their gas tanks full and most importantly, take their time.

Jongema says slowing down and only passing in a passing lane could save a life.

“We need to have patience and wait for those passing lanes because when our highways are very busy, there’s always going to be someone coming in the oncoming direction,” she said.

“It’s not a matter of if there’s a car, it’s a matter of when they’re going to be there and recently, we’ve had a lot of head-on collisions.”

Jongema added that additional patrol cars, roadblocks and speed detection should be expected throughout the province.

by Sydney Chisholm

Caution urged to highway travellers ahead of busy long weekend

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