Motorists advised to avoid distractions, plan ahead for long weekend travel

The final long weekend of the summer is approaching, and British Columbians planning trips are advised to be cautious, pay attention to the road, and plan ahead.

The Insurance Corporation of B.C. (ICBC) states there are an average of 1,994 crashes every Labour Day long weekend in B.C., resulting in 568 injuries.

In the Southern Interior, there are an average of 65 people injured in 306 crashes during the long weekend in September.

ICBC said distracted driving is the most common factor in crashes, contributing to over 40 per cent of police-reported collisions. Distracted driving also leads to an average of 77 fatal motor vehicle collisions in B.C. each year, including 30 in the Southern Interior.

“We know that roads will be even busier as we head back to school and work, so drivers, be proactive and put your phone away. No call or text is worth the risk,” Shabnem Afzal, ICBC’s director of road safety, said.

ICBC and police throughout B.C. will be kicking off a distracted driving education campaign over the Labour Day long weekend to ensure drivers are focused on the road and not on their phones or other distractions.

“Despite increased awareness and enforcement efforts, many drivers still aren’t getting the message about the dangers of distracted driving. Every time a driver takes their eyes off the road, they put themselves and others on the road in danger. Police will be out on the road in every community making sure people leave their phones alone while driving,” Chief Superintendent Holly Turton, BC Highway Patrol, stated.

Additionally, travellers are urged to plan ahead and be conscious of the drought conditions and wildfire activity when planning their trips.

The Ministry of Forest said the majority of forest fires started over the Labour Day long weekend are human caused. People are reminded to follow all local and provincial fire prohibitions, including campfire bans, which span the majority of B.C. including the entire Southern Interior and Lower Mainland.

People planning to travel are also urged to check road conditions before getting behind the wheel at DriveBC to ensure they won’t come up to any closures.

Travellers heading through areas with active wildfires nearby should be prepared for delays or having to take detours, and are also reminded to follow all instructions from local governments or First Nations, including Evacuation Orders and Alerts.

Motorists are also reminded to slow down and be cautious of workers when going through construction zones.