ICBC says one-in-four B.C. drivers admit to this dangerous behaviour
Itâs something most drivers hope never happens, falling asleep at the wheel, but a surprising number of British Columbians admit theyâve done just that.
According to a new ICBC survey conducted by Ipsos, nearly one in four (24 per cent) of B.C. drivers confessed to nodding off behind the wheel at some point over the last year.
Even more alarming? Over half (52 per cent) of B.C. drivers say theyâve driven while tired or drowsy.
With the B.C. Day long weekend approaching, ICBC is urging drivers to take fatigue seriously, especially as fatigue-related crashes spike by 71 per cent during July and August compared to the rest of the year.
“Itâs alarming that so many drivers have been tired enough that theyâve nodded off or fallen asleep,” said Kathleen Nadalin, ICBCâs road safety manager, in the news release.
Most of those who drove while fatigued blamed a lack of sleep the night before, driving too long without a break, or hitting the road at a time theyâd normally be asleep.
Nearly four in 10 of those drivers had less than four hours of sleep, putting them at serious risk of nodding off, even on short trips.
Kleber Cordeiro/Shutterstock
ICBC also warns that symptoms of fatigue arenât always obvious.
If youâre struggling to stay in your lane, forgetting the last few minutes of your drive, or noticing your speed drifting up and down, thatâs your cue to stop and rest.
“Fatigue slows your reaction time and impairs your focus, just like alcohol or drugs,” said Nadalin. “Driving at highway speeds, even a second of lost attention can change everything.”
ICBC stats document crashes across the province
Driver-fatigue-related crashes are happening everywhere.
ICBC said that on average, each year, 189 people are injured or killed in the Lower Mainland, 154 in the Southern Interior, 84 on Vancouver Island, and 86 in northern B.C., due to incidents related to fatigue.
The numbers spike during the B.C. Day long weekend.
Over 560 people are injured and two die in crashes across the province every year during the holiday.
To help combat this, ICBC says it has invested $2.7 million in centreline and shoulder rumble strips on highways, alerting sleepy or distracted drivers if they veer out of their lane.
The insurer also supports barrier upgrades on rural and high-speed roads, and its road safety teams are popping up at BC Ferries terminals this summer to keep the message top of mind.
Staying safe behind the wheel
To help prevent B.C. drivers from falling asleep behind the wheel, ICBC has given these tips:
- Get a good nightâs sleep, aim for at least seven hours of quality rest before hitting the road.
- Check in with yourself, consider how rested you feel before driving, and avoid driving if youâre already tired.
- Avoid driving during your usual sleep hours, especially late at night or early morning.
- Know your meds, and understand how any medication youâre taking might affect your alertness.
- Take a break every two hours on long trips, and switch drivers if you can.
- Use DriveBC’s website to plan out rest stops along your route.
Because when it comes to road safety, nodding off isnât just dangerous, it could be deadly.
Have you ever caught yourself drifting off while driving? What do you do to stay alert on the road? Drop your tips in the comments.
- You might also like:
- Morning vehicle fire snarls traffic on Port Mann and Highway 1
- B.C. tsunami watch upgraded to advisory due to possibility of dangerous waves
- Why some folks south of the border prefer to fly from Vancouver airport
Want to stay on top of all things Vancouver? Follow us on X