As part of the B.C. government’s focus on highway safety, a new Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) pullout has opened on Highway 5A to further improve safety for all motorists.

Located approximately 12 kilometres south of Kamloops, the southbound pullout provides a hub for enforcement and inspections. The $950,000 pullout was completed at the end of May by Dawson Construction Limited.

This is in addition to other safety improvements along this corridor. Over the last year, the ministry has installed two LED curve warning signs near Nicola Lake and eight LED caution signs at Dropping Water curves. Numerous safety upgrades have been made since 2008, including 53 km of resurfacing, 150 meters of concrete roadside barrier and 43 km of centre line rumble strips.

To further boost safety on Highway 5A, the ministry increased CVSE enforcement last summer. CVSE patrols were increased to 20 days per month (up from 15 days per month) and a CVSE unmarked vehicle was designated to the southern interior, dispatched to Highway 5A as a priority route.

Statistics show that this continued focus on safety and enforcement is working. Over the last five years, the number of serious crashes involving commercial trucks on Highway 5A has dropped by approximately 60%, when compared to the five year period before that. Over the last three years, the number of speeding violation tickets issued to commercial truck operators has dropped by more than 60%.

Following the release of the Rural Highway Safety and Speed Review, the speed limits on Highway 5A will remain the same as they are now, which range from 60 to 90 km per hour, with 50 km per hour in Merritt and Kamloops municipal boundaries. The speed limits have been reviewed and were found to be appropriate for this stretch of roadway.

Quotes:

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone -

“Highway 5A has seen a significant safety transformation since 2008, with increased enforcement levels and many road safety improvements. As a result, we are seeing a 60% reduction in the number of accidents involving commercial trucks, and a 60% reduction in speeding violations by truck operators. We will remain vigilant along this important highway, to further improve safety for commercial operators, local drivers and tourists visiting the southern interior.”

Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart-

“As a local resident, I know there are many people who live and work in this region who use Highway 5A on a daily basis. That is why the safety improvements that have been made are so important. This latest investment continues to make a positive difference for all drivers along this corridor.”

Key Facts:

• The ministry has invested $13.6 million on Highway 5A improvements since 2001 to improve safety for all motorists.
• Nearly 1,000 vehicles per day use this corridor, with commercial trucks accounting for approximately 35% of daily traffic.
• Throughout the province, CVSE officers conduct more than 30,000 vehicle inspections every year.
• CVSE officers have the authority to issue violation tickets to truck operators that are speeding and to remove any unsafe vehicles from the road.

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Learn more about the work of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure at: http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/tranprojectsbc/

Media Contacts:

Robert Adam
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241