British Columbia is a province that has a variety of different road conditions and highway systems for drivers to make their way through.
It’s often very dangerous and can lead to some serious accidents.
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According to ICBC, between 2004 and 2013, there were 1,741 fatal crashes on provincial highways.
Here’s a ranking of the most dangerous highways in BC.
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Most Dangerous Highways In BC
8. Hope-Lillooet (Highway 1 & 12: 25 fatal crashes)
The narrow, winding road makes this a very difficult highway to drive on. Government improvements have helped to bring accident figures down.
Highway 1’s total accumulated distance through British Columbia is 1,039 km (646 mi), including the distance travelled on ferries. It is the westernmost portion of the “Highway 1” designation of the TCH through Western Canada. Highway 12, which opened in 1953, is a connection from the Trans-Canada Highway to the town of Lillooet, one of two road connections between the Thompson-Nicola and Squamish-Lillooet Regional Districts.
7. Nanaimo-Courtenay (Highway 19: 26 fatal crashes)
The addition of a new highway on the island has made Highway 19 a much safer route to take for daily drivers. The paved highway first opened in 1953, replacing a stretch of Highway 1 between Nanaimo and Campbell River, finally being extended to the northern tip of the island in the late 1970s. The total length of the highway is 377 kilometres (234 mi).
6. Surrey-Abbotsford (Highway 1: 26 fatal crashes)
Accidents on this route are for the most part due to the heavy amount of traffic. Upgrades over the years have vastly improved this area. Highway 1’s total length in the Lower Mainland is 170 km (110 mi). On the Mainland, the highway begins at the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal in West Vancouver.
5. Prince George-Quesnel (Highway 97: 27 fatal crashes)
From 2004 to 2013, this stretch of highway saw 71 fatal crashes in total. The government is currently overseeing a widening project called the “Cariboo Connector“. Four lanes will be the new layout for several different areas.
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4. Fort St. John-Fort Nelson (Highway 97: 30 fatal crashes)
During the winter months, ice and snow are huge factors that lead to car accidents. The number of trucks that use this route have grown year after year, leading to more risky driving conditions.
3. Merritt-Hope (Highway 5: 32 fatal crashes)
Highway 5 is a mountainous highway that drivers should be very careful on. Major accidents have been seen between Merritt and Kamloops. According to ICBC there were 32 fatal crashes between 2004 and 2013, and an estimated 400-500 accidents occur during the winter seasons.
South of Kamloops, Highway 5 is known as the Coquihalla Highway and it often sees vehicles driving a very fast speeds.
2. Burnaby-Mission (Highway 7: 33 fatal crashes)
Some parts of Highway 7 have four lanes, but there are numerous areas that only have two lanes. Traffic can be seen backed up every day during rush hour.
Highway 7 is an alternative route to Highway 1 through the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. Whereas the controlled-access Highway 1 follows the southern bank of the Fraser River, Highway 7 follows the northern bank.
1. Revelstoke-Golden (Highway 1: 38 fatal crashes)
This is considered to be one of the most dangerous highways in Canada. The government has spent millions on upgrades, but not much improvement has been seen.
High volumes of traffic, large trucks and unpredictable weather conditions mix together to create driving conditions that often lead to serious accidents.
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