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“While we recognize the inconvenience, our priority is to complete investigations thoroughly and safely without compromising evidence or the integrity of the investigative process,” the Investigations Office said.

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According to the Ministry of Public Safety, traffic control was in place following Sunday’s incident, which occurred near Deeks Creek Bridge south of Porteau Cove.

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“Most vehicles had the opportunity to turn around using existing interchanges, overpasses, median crossover locations, side roads, and undivided sections of highway.”

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Squamish safe highways advocate Matthew Paugh is calling for improved signs at turnaround locations along the Sea to Sky Highway. Photo by Kamaljeet Singh

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Paugh, who manages the Sea to Sky Road Conditions Facebook group, said many drivers had no information on how to access those turnarounds, and many couldn’t access Drive B.C.’s online updates due to spotty cell service.

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One of his subscribers, Sepehr Sarraf, who was stuck in the traffic for eight hours, called the situation “reckless and unacceptable … endangering thousands of people stuck on the route.”

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Paugh has gathered over 5,000 signatures on a petition asking for improved signs at turnaround locations, including Porteau Cove, Eagle Bluffs, West Vancouver/Horseshoe Bay, Tantallus Lookout and Salt Shed. He is calling for the implementation of an average-speed camera system.

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The system calculates the average speed of vehicles over a stretch of highway, rather than at a single point, and uses “automatic licence plate recognition” cameras to record when a vehicle enters and exits a zone, eliminating the possibility of evading known radar detection spots.

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B.C. is conducting an average-speed camera pilot project on Highway 5 North between Kamloops and Avola. The system is used extensively in Scotland, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Kuwait and the Middle East, and has been shown to be highly effective in reducing fatal and serious collisions, but has been called a cash grab by critics and raised issues about privacy.

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Paugh is also calling for the installation of gates in sections where there are median barriers, to increase places to turn cars around.

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In a statement, the Transportation Ministry said: “Following significant incidents, response efforts are reviewed to identify opportunities to improve traffic management, communications and emergency response procedures while maintaining safety as the top priority. The ministry will continue to work with RCMP and the Ministry of Public Safety to assess how to better facilitate access to existing turn-around locations during emergency events.”

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Suliman would like a full geometric assessment of the entire Sea to Sky corridor, cross-referenced with collision data of the last three to five years, to determine which locations and counter-measures could be applied.

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“Traffic is not going to go anywhere. It’s a critical highway and safety is a priority,” said Suliman.

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