Are flat tires, potholes and traffic congestion driving you around the bend?
To help improve road safety and campaign for better roads, the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA) invites Rosslanders to vote for a road they feel is the 'worst' in the province as part of its third annual Worst Roads survey.
Until May 27 people are invited to nominate a road in most need of repair or redesign by voting online at bcaa.com/worstroads. Once final results are verified, BCAA will publish the top 10 list and share the results with government to encourage improvements.
Over recent years, BCAA continues to see tire problems such as flat or blown tires and damaged rims as ongoing issues. On average, BCAA receives close to 50,000 calls annually throughout the province for tire-related problems alone.
The Association also notes congestion is worsening, especially in B.C.'s urban areas. Recently, Vancouver was named the worst city in Canada for congestion according to a 2013 survey by Tom Tom, a manufacturer of car navigation systems. The survey ranked Vancouver as second worst in North America next to the notorious gridlock of Los Angeles.
Throughout the campaign, participants can check the website bcaa.com/worstroads to see where their road ranks and which roads are close to taking the dubious title of "B.C.'s Worst Road."
The BCAA "Worst Roads" survey defines a 'worst road' as any piece of paved infrastructure—including a bridge or tunnel—that is in need of repair, has damaging potholes, needs resurfacing, is unsafe and contributes to frequent accidents, or is often heavily congested.
Roads that are poorly designed or too narrow for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to share safely also qualify as a 'worst road.'
During the 2011 and 2012 "Worst Roads" campaigns, thousands of votes were cast with Ospika Boulevard South in Prince George and Westside Road in Kelowna receiving the most votes in those years respectively.
Some improvements have been made to both title-winning roads since the previous surveys were conducted. A complete list of last year's top 10 'worst roads' is also available on BCAA's website.