“Police say fog and icy road conditions played major roles in the crash.”

Current weather conditions for Houston is +1 degrees and rain.

I think it’s time someone up at the University conducted a cause and effect study between warmer winter temperatures and the frequency of highway vehicle accidents in North Central BC.

Seems there is a huge number of accidents and fatalities on Highway 16 West between Prince George and Prince Rupert.

This highway needs some major upgrades, and everything possible should be done to improve the road, and reduce accidents.

This Highway will probably be the busiest highway in North Central BC for the next 10/15 years.

Air temperature can fluctuate fairly quickly whereas ground temperatures may not.

Palopu: Maybe we should start with the drivers?

Maybe we should look at the contractors ?

It must have been Gods will, other wise it would not have occurred. There is no other logical explanation’ is there?

I think Give more made a very good point. That is a very bad temperature as the road surface may be cold enough that any rain could turn to ice when it hits the road surface.

I’m not sure if it’s really practical or not, but have they ever considered different speed limits for the winter months? I would think that could be something to consider, at least for certain problematic stretches.

I also agree that highway improvements would definitely help, especially if they could somehow divide certain portions of the road. That is a major undertaking though and perhaps there are different ways to address the issues.

One thing that struck me pretty quickly out here is that virtually every traffic fatality you hear of occurs on undivided highways. The other thing that stood out was that the secondary highways (which would be similar to 16 West in feel when you drive them) have an 80 km/h speed limit.

I make the drive from Terrace to PG and back usually 3/4 times a year. When you head west from Houston you encounter Hungry Hill, weather changes quickly and in winter you have to drive with caution. Sadly, many drivers rely way too much on the fact they may have a 4×4. They drive like they would in summer. Forgive me for insulting many good drivers of pickup trucks, but sometimes it seems that the worst on the road are in jacked up pickups, with sleds on the back.

There is probably 200,000 people that live along highway 16 from Prince George to Prince Rupert. Not to mention the tourists going to Alaska. We should demand the provincial government make this a divided highway all the way. We can complain about the drivers in 4x4s all we want but it isn’t going to stop. The only way to stop this is if the traffic is divided or make everyone drive 30km an hour in the winter. I think that is 9 people killed in the last 2 months between Smithers and Prince George. I drive this highway every day to Prince George and the truck traffic is huge. When they pass in the snow or rain you can’t see anything for 10 seconds. We can say slow down or don’t drive when the conditions are bad but it isn’t going to stop and people are still dead.

Because they say it is to expensive is not an excuse. The only way is to divide it. I would gladly pay for this instead the crap our tax money is wasted on.

first off they are never going to divide the hwy. between George and Rupert secondly that road has had a lot of work done to it thirdly it boils down to driver education you have got to pay attention and slow down in wintertime. this means turn the stereo off or down learn to feel the road is your steering loose or tight don’t power thru the corners and make sure you don’t use cruise control. using 4 good snow tires makes a big big difference

How about people just drive to the road and weather conditions?

maybe the rcmp could start pulling people over for not driving for conditions, like speeding! that is the only way some people learn. it is so sad this stuff keeps happening. we have lazy cops and unsafe roads

Sometimes it’s just an accident, time and unforseen circumstances. Drive on any highway and you will witness driving too fast for conditions. The roads don’t really need to be divided if people would take responsibility for their actions and quit blaming it otherwise.

What’s lazy Boudicca, is blaming cops for your poor driving habits.

I drove there last night. I know that it’s the holiday season and that may have an effect on how many people are on the roads but it seems to me that there is a lot more traffic on that road now. Between Stewart and PG it was snow flakes the size of golf balls, slush as deep as your shoe, bare and et roads, fog that was thick like soup and then wet roads that turned icy.
I imagine that if the people’s vehicle lost control, road conditions changed and they never reacted to those changes in time. It only takes a split second and you’re sideways.
My condolences to the family of those lost.

I have noticed a lot of people who have snow tires get over confident and over drive for conditions.

How much extra would it cost to place concrete dividers on all the highway?. Remember what was happening with the Yellowhead bridge before dividers where added.

I drive that stretch between Smithers and Houston daily. I agree with some of the comments. Dividers wouldn’t work, too many lanes and roads turning off, and would eliminate any passing opportunities except where there are passing lanes, Hungry Hill being the only one for 70 kms.
Road maintenance has been a big issue around here for a while but I’m curious about the tires on the vehicles involved in this accident. I operate an autobody shop and am always amazed at what tires people have on their vehicles. Good studded snow tires should be made mandatory for anyone traveling this area.
Several accidents with fatalities happened on Hungry Hill because vehicles going up hill were using cruise control. Now there is a sign warning people.
It’s called Winter.

The maintenance of the roads in this area have taken so many lives because of the poor maintenance. When will someone make the contractors more accountable for maintenance of the roads.? When the department of highways used to maintian the roads one would always see plows out all night working – now this does not happen.
I drove to Williams Lake on Dec. 13 at 2 pm. and the roads were in terrible condition ( slush that would make an experienced driver terrified) and were still not plowed until I got to Hixon – the Hixon contractor was out maintaining the road.
Condolences to the family.

The last time I was in a serious accident it was due to slush. I was headed West, on the straight stretch near the 20 mile sign, the day of the first snow of the year. The road wasn’t too bad – mostly clear and no ice. A lady headed East suddenly turned across me, as if she were making a left turn, so close that I had no chance to do anything. Both vehicles were totalled. I wasn’t really injured; the other driver had serious but non-fatal injuries. The RCMP said that the cause of the accident was that her left front tire hit the slush in the middle of the road and that made her vehicle pivot to the left.

Living in the north we are always subject to snow storms.

If you find yourself having to drive in poor road conditions due to a blizzard it is really worthwhile to consider:

– do not rely on anybody but yourself to keep you safe

– stay at home if possible (may be very tough to do)

– invest in a reliable winter vehicle (4×4 or AWD – no short wheel base SUV’s with fat tires)

– run only good winter tires

– drive to the conditions (slow down) and yes, turn down/off your stereo

– be on the lookout for poor drivers (usually women) …lol

Would I be going too far to say don’t let the wife drive?

Condolences to the families of lost ones, take care and drive safe.