On August 6, 2022 BC Highway Patrol responded to a two-vehicle collision near Othello Road on the Coquihalla Highway.
Upon arrival, police determined that a northbound McLaren sports car valued at approximately $600,000 was overtaking a transport truck after leaving one of several construction zones in the area.
A transport truck traveling in the right lane attempted a lane change to overtake a slower moving transport truck ahead of it and collided with the right side of the passing McLaren causing an estimated $100,000 in damage.
No one was injured in the crash.
The investigation revealed that the driver of the transport truck failed to see the sports car in his mirrors before making the lane change and was subsequently ticketed for failing to yield to a passing vehicle. The ticket carries a fine of $109 and 3 points.
The mirrors on commercial vehicles are meant to alert drivers to vehicles traveling on either side of the truck-trailer combination, but there are blind spots that can catch drivers by surprise in some circumstances, says Cst. Dave Vanderput of BCHP Chilliwack.
“The same can be said for mirrors on passenger vehicles and, while there are ways to set one’s mirrors to reduce blind spots, it is best to be alert and visually check blind spots before making turns or lane changes. There is no substitute for the visual blind spot check, and reliance on blind spot detection on many newer vehicles should be avoided.”
That’s why I always say, Do it like in Europe. Semi trucks must stay in the right lane !!
Agreed!