BC Highway Patrol ramps up efforts for Victoria Day long weekend

LOWER MAINLAND — The familiar red, blue and yellow stripes of the BC Highway Patrol (BCHP) cars will be everywhere this May long weekend.

Police are set to ramp up their efforts as part of the month-long High Risk Driving and Motorcycle Awareness campaign. Motorists will see roving patrols, unmarked police cars and check stops across the province. BCHP will be looking for distracted, aggressive or impaired drivers, as well as people not wearing their seatbelts.

“The May long weekend is traditionally dangerous on our highways, so BC Highway Patrol will be using regular resources, overtime and joint projects with local detachments in an effort to make a safer tradition,” said BC Highway Patrol Superintendent Mike Coyle.

ICBC data shows an average of three people die from the 2,171 crashes in B.C. during the Victoria Day weekend, and over 400 get injured in the 1,398 crashes located in the Lower Mainland alone.