ICBC and police across the province have been tackling high-risk driving for the month of May, and their next step is a province-wide enforcement blitz that will take place this weekend.
Over the Victoria Day long weekend, 490 people were injured in 1,900 crashes in BC in 2016. On average, this accounts for roughly two deaths each year. In the North Central region of BC, 38 people were injured in 140 crashes.
Numbers concerning high-risk driving not only in the Bulkley Valley but the entire province, have concerned ICBC Road Safety Coordinator, Doug MacDonald.
“The long weekend always makes for increased road traffic and we want to reduce the number of collisions that take place. The biggest thing heading into the weekend is people must be cognizant of the heavy traffic around them. We want people to get to where they’re going safely, so give yourself more than enough time to get to where you’re going.”
So what can you do to stay prepared before hitting the roads this weekend? ICBC has some tips.
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Plan your route and check road conditions at drivebc.ca before you leave.
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Be realistic about travel times and accept delays that may arise. Don’t rush to make up time – slow down to reduce your risk of crashing and arrive at your destination safely. You also save fuel by driving at a safe and steady speed.
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Don’t speed up as someone is trying to pass you. Help the other driver get back into your lane by slowing down and making room.
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Stay focused and avoid distractions that take your mind off driving and your eyes off the road. Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of crashes so remember to take a break from your phone.
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With more motorcyclists on our roads now, allow at least three seconds following distance when you’re behind a motorcycle. At intersections, the safest choice is to yield the right-of-way to an oncoming rider as it can be hard to tell how fast they’re traveling. Remember, you only see motorcycles when you really look for them.
Additional information on safe driving can be found here.
More information on the high-risk driving campaign in the month of May can be found here.