After almost 20 people died while travelling on B.C. highways this past week, the BC Coroners Service issued a reminder Friday, urging caution and asking travellers to plan ahead this summer.
The Coroners Service says that between July 5 and 11, 19 people were killed in “accidental motor-vehicle-related” collisions.
The BCCS says 12 of these deaths happened within B.C.’s Interior Health Authority.
“We extend our condolences to all affected by these tragedies. We know there are far-reaching impacts, as family and friends across the province, and beyond, mourn the loss of their loved ones,” said John McNamee, acting chief coroner.
“While so many of us look forward to summer trips, unfortunately, statistics show the risk of deadly motor-vehicle crashes is much greater in July, August, and September.”
In just two days this week, two separate families were killed while driving. The first crash claimed the lives of an entire family, two parents and a child, when the vehicle was involved in a head-on collision in Agassiz. The second, just a little more than 24 hours later, killed four members of an extended family as they were travelling in Keremeos.
The Coroners Service explains that in 2023, there were 331 motor-vehicle related deaths, with 110 of those deaths occurring between July and September of that year.
“Between 2013 and 2023, more than one-third of MVI deaths were reported to have happened on roadways in the Interior Health region and a quarter in the Fraser Health region,” the Coroners Service said.
The BCCS says there are ways drivers can ensure their safety, and the safety of their passengers, before they hit the road: “plan ahead.”
“Tips for a safer trip include: knowing your route and allowing time for possible delays because of increased traffic volume or construction; wearing seatbelts, obeying posted speed limits and driving to road conditions; and avoiding distracted driving and focusing on the road ahead,” the Coroners Service said.
“Also, don’t drink alcohol or consume drugs or other substances that could alter decision-making and/or reaction time. BCCS statistics from 2013-2021 indicate that alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in 33 per cent of MVI deaths. Alcohol and drug-related data is not yet available for more recent years,” it added.
The Coroners Service adds it’s actively investigating the circumstances around the deaths of the 19 people killed on the province’s highways this week.