Prince George, B.C. – It’s another long weekend, and that means the pressure  is on to ensure safety on the highways. 

According to provincial stats for the last five years, on Canada Day alone, an average of two people die, and 156 are hurt in about 613 crashes on B.C.’s roads. 

In  the North Central region, the stats indicate an average of 41 crashes and 8 people injured. 

Alcohol, speed and driver distraction are the top three contributing factors in motor vehicle deaths. Drivers in B.C. who engage in these dangerous behaviours can expect to face some of the most severe penalties and fines in Canada. 

Just in the past week, there have been several serious crashes, a motorcyclist went off Highway 16 at Dome Creek, several people injured in a crash at Flint Creek east of Terrace,   a person injured when their  vehicle hit a power pole on North Nechako Road in Prince George, and a 16 year old male was critically injured when the vehicle he was driving went off highway 16 and plunged down an embankment just east of the Yellowhead Bridge.

Drivers can expect RCMP Traffic services to be out in full force this weekend, and they will be looking for aggressive and distracted drivers. Keep in mind, they may not be driving the typical police issued “ghost” car, as they have several different vehicles at their disposal, from Jeeps to pickups and pretty much everything in between.