FAILING to yield the right-of-way, speeding, unsafe lane changes, tailgating and ignoring traffic control devices. These are the high-risk driving behaviours police will be cracking down on this May long weekend on B.C. roads as part of a month-long campaign.
Over the May long weekend, on average, two people are killed and 490 injured in crashes throughout B.C. every year.
Whether you’ll be staying local or heading out of town this holiday weekend, the B.C. government, ICBC and police are urging drivers to avoid high-risk driving behaviours that increase your risk of crashing and endanger everyone on our roads.
Police will kick off their enforcement this weekend with a province-wide blitz on Friday.
ICBC tips:
* Share the road. Warmer spring weather means you’ll see more motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians on our roads. As drivers, we have a particular responsibility to help keep vulnerable road users safe. Actively watch for them, especially at intersections, and make eye contact whenever possible.
* Leave space. Always maintain a safe travelling distance between vehicles to ensure you have enough time to react to the unexpected and reduce your risk of being rear-ended. Allow at least two seconds of following distance in good conditions, and at least three seconds on high-speed roads or if you’re behind a motorcycle since they have a much shorter stopping distance.
* Safe passing. If you’re planning to pass another vehicle, keep within the speed limit and always signal, check your mirrors and shoulder check first. Ensure you can see the vehicle you’ve passed in your mirrors before pulling back in front of it. When you pass or change lanes in front of a truck, leave extra room before pulling back in.
* Think ahead. If you’ll be taking a road trip, check the road and weather conditions for your entire trip at drivebc.ca before you head out. Even if the roads look clear, slow down to reduce your risk of crashing and be realistic about travel times as our highways will be busier than usual. Plan rest stops every couple of hours or switch drivers to avoid becoming fatigued while driving.
* Get your vehicle ready. Long trips can be hard on your vehicle so make sure it’s up to the drive. Check your engine oil, washer fluid and lights. Take a look at your tires too, including the spare, to make sure they are in good condition and properly inflated.
For more road safety tips and information about high risk driving, visit icbc.com.
Every year over the Victoria Day long weekend, on average:
* 340 people are injured in 1,100 crashes throughout the Lower Mainland (Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley).
* 67 people are injured in 230 crashes on Vancouver Island.
* 68 people are injured in 260 crashes throughout the Southern Interior.
* 17 people are injured in 100 crashes throughout the North Central region.
