PETERS – Fatal crashes ramp up pressure to twin area highways
(Image: CFJC Today file photo)
THE AMOUNT OF CARNAGE we have seen on Kamloops-area roads in the past few weeks has been both unfathomable and unacceptable.
The most gut-wrenching incident happened about three weeks ago near Vinsulla, where a man driving a moving van witnessed his family almost completely wiped out in an instant after a head-on crash with a semi.
A collision on the Coquihalla the same day took another life.
Separate motorcycle incidents two weekends ago killed two more people.
Then this Tuesday, a head-on crash near Little River Road west of Sorrento killed the occupants of both vehicles. Three more lives lost.
The causes of all these incidents have yet to be revealed and, in some cases, may never be known.
In the two deadliest crashes we just listed, we know there is one change that would likely have prevented death, regardless of the cause of the collision, and that’s a twinned highway.
James Peters is the radio anchor at CFJC, coming to Kamloops in 2006. He anchors the afternoon news on B-100 and 98.3 CIFM, and contributes weekly editorials to the CFJC Evening News. He tweets regularly @Jamloops.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Maybe not electing any more Todd Stones would help a great deal and of course more cops.I have seen more cops on the job recently where for years you saw none,Stone had several 70 KPH’s removed in bad curves on highway 5 between Kamloops and Barriere. Alberta drivers? yes they tend to speed well over the limit and pass where they should not.as do many of our very own N licencees. I speak from a great deal of experience. The speed limit of 100 should be enforced and Todd given a shovel and some 70 signs. So say I.I must admit I put my cruise on 105 most of the time and am passed by lots of tractor trailers and almost all cars.
As for short passing lanes, A bunch of cars very close together and playing a sort of Russian roulette. A four laner on 5 is well past due. Those pesky yanks would have done it years ago.Or how about a daily commuter train to Kamloops from Vavenby. That would help stamp out those gals who are just a little late getting started for work in Kamloops..They don,t waste any time heading for home either
It,s a big problem and it,s killing people.
Maybe try lowering the speed limit and enforcement first?