Drivers are being urged to be cautious as they take to the highways this Labour Day long weekend.
Statistics show the number of serious crashes rises during long weekends.
On average, 21 people are injured in 120 crashes in the North Central region at this time every year. For the province as a whole, the count is 560 injuries from 1,900 crashes.
"This long weekend, I urge you to become a driving role model by making a commitment to your family and friends to buckle up, slow down, leave your phone alone, and drive sober," said Chief Cst. Neil Dubord, chair of the B.C. Association of Police Traffic Safety Committee. "For those who continue to take unnecessary driving risks, police will be out in force."
Tips from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia include:
- Make sure to get a good night's sleep before your trip so that you're alert behind the wheel. Fatigue slows your reaction time; even a slight decrease in reaction time can greatly increase your risk of crashing especially when travelling at highway speeds.
- Take some stress out of your road trip by planning your route before leaving the house. Check drivebc.ca to view weather and road conditions for major routes throughout B.C. And help yourself by taking rest breaks every 1.5 to 2 hours to avoid driver fatigue.
- Program your GPS-device before you head out and ask a passenger to help you navigate and make or receive calls and texts for you so you can stay focused on driving.
- Allow at least two seconds of following distance in good conditions, and at least three seconds on high-speed roads. Increase your distance when you're following a large vehicle (it can block your vision) or a motorcycle (it can stop quicker than a car).
