Kids head back to school in two weeks time and as the last long weekend of summer approaches, RCMP in the Southern Interior are hoping to see an end to an alarming trend this year.
It has been an especially deadly summer on B.C. Highways. In July, 19 people died in crashes in just a six day span, between July 5 and 10. It begs the question what’s behind the rise in serious collisions?
“Crossing the centre line seems to be a common one this summer,” says Cpl. James Grandy, communications officer with the Southeast District RCMP. “What the reasons are for that are still under investigation for some of these cases but that seems to be a trend.
“That could be due to an increase in distraction, for some reason. But that’s something that we’re looking at and we certainly do try and enforce.”
According to ICBC, drivers are 3.6 times more likely to crash if talking on the phone or texting while driving.
And then there’s speed. ICBC says it’s the top contributing factor in fatal wrecks. Research shows going 5 km/h over the speed limit increase your risk of crashing by 50%.
Cpl. Grandy doesn’t think the issue is improperly trained drivers.
“I think it’s just people are just taking unnecessary risks, and that could be for a variety of factors,” he explains.
“You’re trying to get from point A to point B, maybe you’re not familiar with a certain stretch of highway. Or maybe you’re too familiar with it and you become more willing to take those risks.”
When a crash occurs in or near a community, RCMP members from the closest local detachment are often the first on the scene. More collisions mean less time to investigate other crimes.
“It does have a tremendous effect on the level of the ability to respond to other calls in those communities. But they are serious and they are well investigated, which is very important. So, I can say that the resources are put in place and are allocated where necessary to help those detachment areas and those officers investigate those collisions properly.”
He reminds motorists, the RCMP is always keeping an eye on the roads.
“I can’t speak on behalf of BC Highway Highway Patrol but I can certainly say that they are out en masse, but they change their locations throughout the province. Different stretches of highway, different parts of the highway, depending on the need or what they’re seeing out there.”
On average, 568 people are injured in crashes every Labour Day long weekend in B.C., including 65 on Southern Interior roads and highways.
