Driving too fast on icy roads are the likely cause of the "vast majority" of accidents on a stretch of Highway 16 connecting Prince George and Vanderhoof, Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad said Thursday.
Three people died and three were injured in a two-vehicle collision Tuesday on Highway 16 near Jutland Road. Rustad said he's raised concerns in the past about the number of accidents on the highway with representatives of the ministry of transport and the RCMP. Speed, he was told, seemed to be a key factor in many of the crashes.
In respect to highway safety in general, he said he intends to explore making the use of winter tires mandatory in B.C.
However the MLA is also concerned over a portion of "challenging" highway to the west of the Jutland accident scene, between Cluculz and Norman Lake.
"It seems to be a little more challenging," said Rustad. "I've driven this road for many years. What I've noticed is that that particular stretch of road seems to get worse weather. For example, it gets more snow, tends to have more ice buildup."
Currently Yellowhead Road and Bridge, which handles highway maintenance in the area, splits winter duties on the roads between crews based in Prince George and Vanderhoof.
The Cluculz-Norman Lake stretch is in between YRB Prince George's area and YRB Vanderhoof's.
"YRB Prince George does a pretty good job given the amount of territory they have to cover," said Rustad.
While Rustad said maintenance on that portion of Highway 16 is "generally pretty good," he is concerned that the span that falls into Yellowhead Prince George's responsibility takes a lower priority to Highway 97 and roads in Prince George.
He has met with ministry of transport officials and proposed giving the YRB Vanderhoof responsibility for the area between Clulculz and Norman Lake because it is closer to that city and would mean a shorter turnaround time for crews.
The MLA said he'd like to explore either modifying the existing contract with YRB or revisiting the issue when YRB's contract comes up.
Yellowhead Road and Bridge received a decade-long contract in 2004 to service highways in an area that encompasses 1,790 kilometres. That area includes: south of Stoner; north, above Mackenzie; 50 kilometres west of Prince George; and east beyond Dome Creek.
