In time for the upcoming Victoria Day long weekend, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) and provincial police have issued a notice reminding drivers to watch their speeds during the holiday.
Provincial police are conducting an enforcement blitz this weekend to target speeders, so they have partnered with the ICBC to remind motorists to drive safely.
According to the ICBC, 480 people are injured and three people are killed in 1,800 crashes on average throughout British Columbia during Victoria Day weekends, based on police data from 2015 to 2019. When broken down per region, the Lower Mainland of BC sees 1,200 crashes on average, which result in 340 injuries; Vancouver Island sees 270 crashes, resulting in 62 injuries; the Southern Interior with 270 crashes, resulting in 63 injuries; and the North Central region with 120 crashes, leading to 20 injuries.
“Speeding increases your risk of crashing and remains the leading cause of car crash fatalities in BC,” ICBC warned in its notice, adding that eight people on average are killed in crashes involving speed every month from May through September.
Earlier this month, ICBC launched a driver safety education campaign aimed at graduating students in northern BC. The insurer tapped two-time USA Paralympic medalist Tiana Tozer and paramedic Ted Swan to discuss the importance of safe driving at select schools.
