Prince George, B.C.-  It is the last long weekend of summer,   and it has also  proven to be one of the most dangerous long weekends on the roads in B.C.

Between 2009 and 2013 ( the latest year for which there are stats), ICBC reports that, on average,  there are 121 vehicle crashes on  roadways in the North Central region of the province, and   21 people have been injured over the long weekend.

ICBC Media Relations’ Joanna Linsangan says the  top three  contributing factors to  Labour Day weekend crashes  are “Distracted Driving,  impaired driving and speeding, and  driver fatigue is also  an issue.”  It is also the time of the year when  wildlife is on the move,  there is diminished daylight, and weather conditions  can swing from  sunny and warm, to  heavy downpours.

Provincially,  during the same time period, there have  been on average, 4 deaths and 560 people injured  in 1900 crashes on the Labour Day long weekend.

“It may be that  families are trying to cram in that one last family getaway before school starts” says  Linsangan, “But we are  asking   people to  plan ahead, and make sure they  give themselves plenty of time to get to their destination.”

As is the case with all long weekends, police will be on the highways  to  watch for aggressive and unsafe  drivers.