VANCOUVER — There are more than 650,000 km of resource roads in B.C., which is 14 times more than the amount of provincial roads.

Originally built as ‘logging roads," the network of resource roads is now used extensively by the mining, and oil and gas industries — as well as the general public. In many cases, resource roads have become an extension of the public highway system in the communities they service.

As a result, safety on B.C.’s resource roads has become an issue.

Industry Canada is undertaking a program to reduce the number of radio channels used on resource roads, and the BCFSC’s Forestry TruckSafe Program is participating in developing a SOP for radio calling procedures in the province.

Forestry TruckSafe is working on a number of safety related issues dealing with advocacy and outreach, standards development, road use management, and perhaps most importantly, driver information and public education.

The narrow roads, blind corners and rough terrain, can create a lot of problems for truckers and understanding by the public when they use the resource roads is key for everyone’s safety.