The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia is asking motorists to be careful when they take to the highways this long weekend.
On average, 28 people are injured in 110 crashes - 50 of them involving impaired drivers - in North Central B.C. every year and across the province, five people are killed and 530 injured, according to ICBC.
"Take your turn as the designated driver this summer to help your friends and family get home safely," said Lindsay Matthews, ICBC's director of road safety. "If your activities involve alcohol, plan ahead for a safe ride home - arrange a designated driver, call a taxi or take transit."
Here are some further tips from ICBC for a safe trip:
Most crashes this weekend occur on Friday so plan to leave on today or Saturday morning if possible to avoid traffic congestion and possible delays.
You should also make sure you get a good night's sleep to avoid getting fatigued behind the wheel. Plan your route on drivebc.ca and include rest breaks or switch drivers every two hours.
Do a pre-trip check of your engine oil, coolant levels and lights, and inspect your vehicle tires, including the spare, to make sure they're in good condition and properly inflated. Make sure any camping or outdoor equipment is securely tied down to your vehicle before you take off.
Summer means a high number of motorcyclists on the roads so it's vital to scan as you approach an intersection. Be ready to yield the right-of-way when turning left and keep in mind that it can be hard to tell how fast motorcyclists are travelling.
Be patient with R.V. drivers if they're travelling below the speed limit in mountainous areas as they're likely going uphill as fast as they can.
If you're driving your RV this weekend, be courteous and pull over when it's safe to do so to let others by. This is much safer than a driver making an unsafe pass out of frustration.
If you're away from home, you may not be familiar with all of the options available to get home safely after you've had a few drinks.
Check your options such as taxis, transit or shuttle services before you head out and program the information into your cell phone so you can relax knowing you have a plan to get home safely.
