ICBC, police urge road safety for B.C. long weekend

The August agelong play has arrived, and B.C. highways will beryllium busier than normal arsenic residents and vacationers recreation to each corners of nan province.

While nosy successful nan sun will beryllium apical of mind for many, ICBC is reminding residents that agelong weekends tin beryllium fatal.

Citing its statistics, nan security agency says nan number of group injured aliases killed successful driver fatigue-related crashes successful July and August is 58 per cent higher than normal.

ICBC says astir months spot an mean of 55 group injured aliases killed. For July and August, though, that mean rises to 87 group injured aliases killed.

“As nan B.C. Day agelong play approaches, ICBC is informing drivers that agelong drives and basking summertime temperatures tin beryllium a vulnerable operation starring to fatigue,” it said.

“Fatigue tin slow your guidance clip and erstwhile driving astatine road speeds, moreover a flimsy simplification successful guidance clip tin importantly summation your consequence of crashing.”

According to ICBC, nan mean B.C. Day agelong play will spot 2,064 crashes, pinch 2 killed and 562 injured.

Signs of driver fatigue include:

• Finding it difficult to enactment successful your lane.
• Your driving velocity creeps up aliases down.
• You don’t callback nan erstwhile fewer minutes of driving.
• Feeling bored, yawning aliases daydreaming.
• Struggling to enactment focused connected nan road.
• Having blurred vision.
• Having trouble keeping your caput up.

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“If you announcement immoderate signs of fatigue, propulsion complete successful a safe spot for illustration a remainder extremity and return a nap,” said ICBC, adding that drivers should return a break each 2 hours.

Average statistic from ICBC astir nan B.C. Day agelong weekend:

Lower Mainland

• 1,235 crashes, 387 group injured

Vancouver Island

• 306 crashes, 67 group injured

Southern Interior

• 352 crashes, 78 group injured

North-central B.C.

• 130 crashes, 24 group injured

In related news, nan BC Highway Patrol says it will summation roadblocks passim nan state this agelong weekend.

“In bid to trim postulation fatalities, BC Highway Patrol is asking you to study high-risk drivers to your section police,” Cpl. Melissa Jongema said.

“Examples of high-risk driving see impaired drivers, fatigued drivers, vehicles passing connected a double coagulated statement and/or astir curves, vehicles failing to support their lane, excessive speeders, and drivers who astir origin a collision.

“Let’s activity to support our highways safer together.”