It鈥檚 been a devastating season for traffic fatalities along northern B.C.鈥檚 Highway 16, but weather鈥檚 not the only thing to blame, say police.
鈥淚f it was just the weather, you鈥檇 expect everyone in the ditch,鈥� said RCMP North District Traffic Services Staff-Sgt. Pat McTiernan. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think that the drivers are adjusting to the conditions this year.鈥�
The more than 1,300-kilometre northern route stretches from the Alberta-B.C. border near McBride, winds its way through Prince George and Fraser Lake, takes a turn through Smithers and Terrace and cuts through Prince Rupert before ending in Haida Gwaii.
It is known as the Highway of Tears for its link to a series of unsolved deaths and disappearances of young women along a stretch between Prince George and Prince Rupert.
Now, due to a recent slew of fatal accidents, the highway is also gaining notoriety as a dangerous stretch of northern driving.
Since November, there have been 20 traffic fatalities throughout the northern region. Of those deaths, 16 alone took place on Highway 16.
McTiernan spoke to The Province and shared his concerns and frustrations relating to the recent string of fatal accidents.
Usually, January is a quiet month. But since returning to work after Christmas, McTiernan said he鈥檚 seen nearly one fatality a week and at least one traffic incident a day, something that鈥檚 becoming emotionally draining on him and his officers.
鈥淧atience is a little thing for my guys and myself when you鈥檝e seen the deaths that we have in the past,鈥� McTiernan confessed. 鈥淗ow do we get the message out in our regions to people about their driving in the winter time?鈥�
DRIVER ERROR LARGELY TO BLAME
According to police, many of the recent accidents are due to driver error or drivers who overestimate their vehicle鈥檚 ability. But the same old rules will always apply: be prepared, slow down, and be patient 鈥� even if you live up north and think you can handle the conditions.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a confidence level there where we need to do a self-check. Maybe we鈥檙e getting a little over confident,鈥� McTiernan said. 鈥淛ust because you鈥檝e got four-wheel drive doesn鈥檛 mean you鈥檙e invincible.鈥�
FATHER AND TWO CHILDREN KILLED IN LATEST CRASH
The latest fatal accident took place Wednesday near Moose Lake overpass, about 40 kilometres east of Tete Jaune Junction.
The driver of a minivan had apparently been trying to pass a semi-tractor trailer when he lost control and swerved into the oncoming lane. The minivan was T-boned by another semi.
The crash killed an Alberta father and two of his young children, aged three and six, while his wife and their other three-year-old child were sent to hospital.
TRAFFIC WILL GET HEAVIER IN THE FUTURE
And with the increasing industry and ongoing talks of pipelines in northern B.C., there will also be more commercial trucks on the roads 鈥� meaning a small driving mistake could result in something much worse than just getting stuck in a ditch.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not that we have more trucks that concerns me, but because the vast majority of the crashes are because of the driver of the passenger or pickup truck,鈥� McTiernan noted, citing an incident earlier this month where a driver stuck in a ditch on Highway 16 suddenly revved his vehicle and shot across the road, colliding head-on with an oncoming truck.
WINTER SPEED LIMIT AN OPTION
Prince George Mayor Shari Green agreed with RCMP that travellers need to be much more cautious with their own driving, while still adjusting to the weather. Green suggested a winter speed limit may be an idea that will encourage everyone using those roads to be more careful.
鈥淭here are drivers that are travelling on our highways that are more confident or less cautious,鈥� Green said. 鈥淪o if you think you鈥檙e more confident, I think you鈥檙e less cautious.鈥�
Green said mayors of the northern towns and cities along the route are always in contact about regional safety issues, include the recent highway fatalities.
鈥淏ecause we are more distant from each other ... we have to travel to get to each other. As a result, when you have a smaller community, it鈥檚 a much deeper impact when you experience a loss of life,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very sad when it鈥檚 preventable.鈥�
PREPARE FOR THE DRIVE
Those embarking on the route are reminded to prepare for all conditions and to plan ahead by checking conditions online.
A quick look at Drive B.C.鈥檚 website showed a number of warnings and notices posted for the route, listing conditions such as slippery surfaces and compact snow.
The ministry of transportation also suggests ensuring you are equipped with a cellphone, a first aid kid, cat litter (to help improve traction when a vehicle is stuck on ice/snow), extra clothing, candles, extra car fluids, a scraper, a wind-up flashlight, food and water, a multi-tool and a shovel.
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