The BC Highway Patrol has launched its High-Risk Driving and Motorcycle Awareness campaign for the month of May, focusing on motorcycle safety, impaired, aggressive, and/or distracted driving, and seatbelts.
The campaign aims to lessen the impact of what police call the most ‘dangerous driving weekend of the year’-the May long weekend.
Historically, the May long weekend in our province sees an average of over 2,100 collisions and four fatalities.
Last year, in the West Kootenay region specifically, there were seven fatal collisions, three of which involved motorcyclists, and 23 that led to serious injuries from May to July.
Vince LeBlanc, with the BC Highway Patrol in Nelson, says local officers will be focusing on high-risk driving, which he defines as impatient motorists who drive without consideration for other drivers.
“People who are passing on double solid lines, speeding excessively, tailgating, and motorcycle safety. We’re looking for people who are licensed to ride their motorcycles with a valid Class 6, insurance, and who have maintained them in proper working order so that they’re safe to be on the road.”
For the May long weekend, LeBlanc says there will be an increase in police presence on the roads with a particular focus on motorcycle safety.
“You’ll see a lot of officers out there looking for impaired drivers and people using their phones, so that motorists know to obey the rules, specifically centred around the long weekend. A couple of the days are focused specifically on motorcycle safety. So, if you’re riding a motorcycle on those days, expect to be checked for your documents and sobriety.”
LeBlanc says aggressive driving and overdriving were large contributors to the number of fatalities that occurred in the summer of 2024.
His message to Kootenay drivers is simple: obey the speed limits and be patient with other highway users.
“They [highways] weren’t created for a sole person’s use. They’re for everybody. So, be nice and share them. If you’re breaking the rules and overdriving the roads, there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself in a sticky situation. And that’s what we want everyone to avoid.”
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