Truckers call on B.C. to clear potholes, snow from highways
Posted January 16, 2022 8:05 pm.
Last Updated January 16, 2022 8:09 pm.
Truckers are calling on the province to make sure highways are clear of snow and potholes.
They say hazardous conditions have caused a number of crashes over the past few weeks.
On Jan. 13, the West Coast Trucking Association tweeted, “Our brothers are losing their lives every day on the icy highways which are totally neglected by the authorities with regard to cleaning and deicing.”
Now, the West Coast Trucking Association says drivers are encountering black ice, particularly at night, and some are worried they’re putting their lives at risk while on the job.
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Ajay Toor, who speaks for the West Coast Trucking Association, says truckers who report harsh highway conditions on the government’s DriveBC website are being informed so many complaints are coming in, they should be emailing highway maintenance contractors instead.
But he says it’s impossible for drivers to know which of 28 government contractors are in charge of particular highways across the province.
Toor says the association contacted the Transportation Ministry last month and has also reached out to members of the legislature. They have not received a response.
#cleanhighwayssavelives @Clovechok @robmorrisonmp @KylloGreg pic.twitter.com/lddVTHEfwM WCTA. (@WCTA2021) January 16, 2022
In hopes of creating safer spaces for truckers, they’re organizing a rally from Surrey to downtown Vancouver on Saturday.
“It’s a humble request to all the truckers that we should get together and participate in this protest so that the government can take us more seriously, so that we shall stop losing our lives on these highways,” the organization tweeted.
Maintenance teams are being sent to repair the roads, but there are so many it can be hard to keep up, especially if more severe weather is on the way.
With files from Renee Bernard and The Canadian Press
