As people gear up for the long weekend and plan to head out on road trips, the Insurance Corporation of B.C. is urging drivers to take care on the roads.
Across the North Central region, alone, there has been an average of 120 crashes and 30 injuries between 2006 and 2010 over the B.C. Day long weekend.
ICBC says several crashes each year are caused by driver fatigue. Although many people consider impaired drivers to mean those who have been drinking alcohol, impaired drivers can be anyone who allows something to impact their reaction time or ability to judge situations, which includes fatigue.
The provincial insurance company recommends drivers get a good night’s sleep before leaving on a road trip, take breaks every two hours and do not drive at night when they would usually be asleep.
It also says that if drivers begin to feel drowsy, they should immediately pull over, get out of the vehicle and walk around or even take a nap.