If history is the predictor of the future, Squamish drivers should use extreme caution at a few key accident-prone spots in the district.
Three areas of concern for drivers, according to reports from ICBC sent to The Squamish Chief from the Squamish RCMP, focus on areas where there were crashes between 2009 -2013, the most recent data available.
The stretch of road with the highest number of casualties, meaning incidents resulting in injury or death, was Highway 99 between Valley Drive and Depot Road. There were 186 casualties over the four years and a total of 452 accidents. In 2013, this stretch of highway saw the most accidents with an injury or fatality at 49, but 2009 saw the highest total number of accidents at 109.
“There are several speed zone changes between Shannon Falls and Depot Road with 60 kilometres per hour in some sections, 70 kilometres per hour in some sections and 80 kilometres per hour in others,” said Squamish RCMP Staff Sgt. Brian Cumming. “Drivers need to pay attention to these speed zone changes.”
An intersection familiar to downtown Squamish residents, Highway 99 at Cleveland Avenue, had the second highest number of casualties: 80 total between 2009 and 2013; during that time period, there were 186 accidents in total. The worst year for casualties was 2013, with 23 accidents in which someone got hurt or died.
“At Cleveland Avenue, collisions often occur in the southbound merge lane when motorists merge prematurely or fail to notice a vehicle in front merging more slowly and hit them from behind,” said Cumming.
Another spot to pay close attention is the intersection at Highway 99 at Mamquam Road, where there were a total of 61 accidents and 29 casualties between 2009 and 2013. The highest number of crashes was in 2009, when there were 16.
The District of Squamish is part of a Traffic Safety Working Group with the RCMP, ICBC, Ministry of Highways and Miller Capilano Maintenance Corporation, a private company that maintains the provincial highway system in the Sea to Sky Corridor. The group meets regularly to address problems, according to district staff. Recently, through the group, the district received $25,000 from ICBC to widen the Mamquam Road thoroughfare to add bike lanes and improve pedestrian safety.
The district also spends about $1 million a year on paving and line painting to maintain and upgrade roads, according to a spokesperson.
“Most collisions at intersections are the result of speeding, distracted driving or failure to obey traffic control devices,” Cumming said.
“Many collisions would be avoided if all drivers consistently obey the posted speed limits, do not use electronic devices while driving, and brake rather than accelerate for amber lights.”
