Plan Ahead & Drive Safely This BC Day Long Weekend

Tips to stay safe and enjoy the August long weekend

Summer is now in full swing and the roads are busy with visitors and residents alike. Wherever you plan to travel to enjoy your B.C. Day long weekend, the Province, police and ICBC encourage you to make smart driving decisions.

Over the B.C. Day long weekend, there are approximately 1,730 crashes in B.C. resulting in 510 injuries and three deaths.*

We all play a role in making B.C. roads safer. Here are five smart driving tips for the B.C. Day long weekend:

No. 1 – Plan ahead: Impairment starts with your first drink, not after you’ve had a few. It’s fine to celebrate a sunny long weekend with a few beers and friends but if your activities are going to involve alcohol, arrange for a safe way home. Make plans to have a designated driver, take a taxi, public transit or call a friend or family member for a ride home.

No. 2 – Be realistic: …about your travel times and check the road situation before you leave. Check www.drivebc.com for possible highway closures before heading out and allow extra time for delays that may occur, especially over the long weekend when more vehicles will be on the road. If you’re going to be later than you expected – deal with it. Take a deep breath and accept the delay. Relax… it’s a long weekend after all.

No. 3 – Slow down and keep your distance: Slow down, especially if we get some unexpected rain, or if you’re driving on uneven roads. Always follow the posted speed limits in construction and playground zones. Weaving in and out of traffic is one of the top five high-risk behaviours that cause car crashes. Give other drivers the benefit of the doubt and keep your distance. Even with a lot of sunshine and favourable road conditions, you need to allow at least two seconds of following distance, and at least three seconds on high-speed roads. The latter also applies if you’re behind a motorcycle since it has a much shorter stopping distance.

No. 4 – Buckle up: If you don’t wear your seatbelt, you are 25 times more likely to be killed in a crash if ejected from the vehicle. In a 50 km/h head-on crash, a 150-pound adult not wearing a seatbelt will collide with other occupants, strike the inside of the vehicle or get thrown from the car with the same force as the weight of a 3½-ton truck.

No. 5 – Set an example: ...to your children and other drivers by being courteous and safe on the road. Your smart driving decisions can have a significant influence on others. So set an example, whether you’re a driver or passenger.