In response to a significant spike in serious motor vehicle collisions in the region since May, the BC Highway Patrol is offering important tips for motorists who witness a collision or encounter a dangerous driver.
Vince LeBlanc with the BC Highway Patrol in Nelson credits most of the serious collisions in the region to aggressive driving, impaired driving, and distracted driving. If you see a hazardous driver, LeBlanc said it’s your duty to call and report it to police.
“Call 911. Report the dangerous driver. There are going to be times when that person is going to get caught. There are going to be times when that person is not going to get caught, depending on resourcing, but at least we’re doing something to try to catch them.”
If a situation arises where you notice a dangerous driver and then roll up on the scene of an accident, LeBlanc said asks that you stop and let first responders know what you saw, as it can be vital to an investigation.
“You need to stick around and let the investigators know what you saw. When investigators get to an accident, they’ve got to rebuild it from no knowledge whatsoever and it’s a step-by-step process. The more information we get, the more we can move from.”
“Your information as the person that just had that vehicle fly by you may be the missing link to get that search warrant or production order to facilitate that investigation to go further.”
Social Media
LeBlanc said it’s distasteful to post pictures and information on social media when you are one of the first to arrive on the scene. He asks that you consider the impact to a victims family before you post.
“Be respectful of the fact that somebody may of died. It’s somebody’s loved one. To learn that your loved one died from the internet is going to destroy that person for the rest of their life.”
“Think before posting, think about how you would feel being the person receiving or seeing that for the first time.”
This comes after a 71-year-old motorcyclist lost his life on Saturday while travelling down Highway 3A near Twin Bays.
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