Hot Weather And Long Drives Can Be A Dangerous Mix
Caution urged as many families head out camping or visiting this long weekend photo courtesy ICBC
Prince George, BC – While a spike in temperatures is often welcomed for the long weekend, ICBC and the provincial government are urging motorists to take precautions, so we don’t see a spike in traffic crashes.
On average, five people are killed and another 533 injured in close to 2,000 crashes across the province over the course of the BC Day long weekend. In the Northern Central region, there are, on average, 115 crashes and 29 people injured over the course of the three days.
"If you’re staying in town this weekend, we want you to have a great time so make sure you plan ahead for a safe ride home," says ICBC’s Director of Road Safety, Fiona Temple. "If you’re setting off on a road trip, keep in mind that long drives and hot summer days can be a dangerous combination and increase your risk of driver fatigue."
Temple is encouraging drivers to take regular breaks and recognize when they’re too tired to continue.
Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Shirley Bond, says, "If you’re going to get behind the wheel this weekend, you owe it to yourself and those you love to take your time, focus on the road, and absolutely avoid driving while impaired."
"We’re tough on dangerous driving behaviours because their consequences remain devastating for too many BC families," she says.
The Chair of the Traffic Safety Committee of the BC Association of Police Chiefs, Constable Jamie Graham, says, "The safety of our roads is a shared but very personal responsibility – we need to work together this long weekend to prevent senseless deaths and injuries from happening on our roads."
Graham says police will be out in full force across the province to make sure drivers stay focused on the road.
ICBC has issued the following tips to stay safe this weekend:
- plan ahead: if you know you’ll be drinking, plan a safe ride home
- be realistic: allow extra time for possible travel delays due to increased traffic
- check your vehicle: make sure your vehicle is up to the drive before you hit the road
- watch out: there are more motorcyclists and cyclists on the road in summer months, so keep a look out for other road users
- give your distance: maintain a safe travelling distance between vehicles, at least two seconds in good weather and road conditions, three seconds on high speed roads or behind a motorcyclists
Comments
While on the highway yesterday afternoon I had one thought reaffirmed, there are many, many idiots on the road.
Why is it when they can see that there is a lineup of traffic for miles and miles ahead they still insist on passing in danger zones?
The second idiot in this traffic lineup is the driver at the front of the line causing the backup. If you like to drive slow please be courteous by pulling over and letting others by if you see a long line behind you.
Traffic lineup idiot number three…. why are you tailgating so close that you can read my insurance expiry date? Explain to me how riding my rear end will make all the vehicles in front of me go faster?
The question is, how do idiot and stupid drivers get their licenses??
Oh right, they pretend their not stupid when they apply.
“urging motorists not to take precautions”
Okay, I realize this has to be a typo, but golly, what if someone takes it seriously?
Why, we would see a lot of idiots on the roads this week end.
Too late!!
There are already a lot of idiots on the highways, and they are all in a hurry. Must they tailgate others who are travelling at the speed limit or even 10K over the posted limit?
Pylot, the person following you too close is concerned someone might get ahead of him. Big city traffic rules: never leave enough room ahead of your vehicle for another car. Nature will fill the void, and they might arrive at their destination 1.5 minutes later. Can’t have that.
metalman.
Asphalt
the thing is the speed limit is generally 100 kmh. Many times the lead person is doing 100 – 105 kmh yet people have to be idiots behind them. The one in front is legal, its the rest who are breaking the law.
When you leave home please calculate a driving time, add an extra half hour to hour to it them relax and enjoy the trip.
There are also a lot of idiots who only seem to realize what the road conditions are if they are out in front. They tailgate and want to pass, only to find once they are in front that they can’t go any faster than the previous leader.
Or billposer they could be a driver that can not have some one in front of him. I have driven with drivers that will speed up so that they catch up to a car just to pass.
When I was younger, I used to drive above the Limit but over the Years I found I could not please anyone , I still was followed to close (1 car length or less at 100km) now I just drive whatever the Sign says and nothing has changed, the same Idiots behind me. Have a save Weekend ,I stay home and waiting for Fall to go South!
This issue is also present during light traffic.If the “idiot” at the front of the line is doing 100 or more there is much less back up. The backups start when oblivodriver is daydreaming or stoned or whatever doing 90. Once you are around him, with our light traffic volume it is usually clear sailing. For you old girls,don’t kid yourself, doing 110 where there are no side access roads ,good visibility and gentle curves is not dangerous,if someone wants around you than you maintain your curve speed in the straigt stretches and passing lane and let people by. Our speed limit has been the same for decades, cars handling has improved lots. Finally speed limits are set low so police have a lawful reason to initiate an investigation which is’nt always a bad thing. Anyone been given a ticket for going 10k over in a 100 zone? If so it was because you were a jerk to the cop
The best solution for tailgaters is to just take your foor off the gas. Then they will either back off or pass you. Easy and effective solution.
As for speed limits: they are set for the nominal driver. There is a safety margin built in for below average drivers. Best to just stick to them and keep everyone safe. Not everyone can handle 110KpH. the extra fuel, wear on brakes,the stress of getting caught going too fast and the increase of danger due to passing, just isn’t worth the very slight gain you may make.
Yes, let your foot off the gas, especially in the straight streches. It seems to be human nature to speed up where it is safe to pass
What is at the Bottom of the Sign “Minimum or Maximum Speed” .
Do the max or less but don’t block and frustrate,,,simple. Reality is that people will become more unpredcitable once you frustrate them. If you are travelling the same direction as the tailgater chances are you won’t go from 95 to 0 quickly but oncoming traffic will. Step down from your law enforcement high horse and practice sense. Like it or not there will be survivors that way
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