Fiery crash on Trans-Canada Highway

If you ignore the yellow advisory speed sign and cause an incident, you could be fined, the Revelstoke RCMP are warning. That was the case for a 32-year old Kelowna man on Tuesday morning after he lost control of his 1993 Chrysler Intrepid in a curve on the Trans-Canada Highway

The incident happened at about 6 a.m. at a location about 40 kilometres east of town.

The vehicle rolled over and crashed into a concrete barrier, then burst into flames after the driver failed to negotiate the curve. Fortunately, the driver got out without any injuries. The Chrysler, however, burst into flames and burned to a hulk. The area is outside Revelstoke’s fire service area, so no fire trucks responded.

A 1993 Chrysler Intrepid burned to a hulk on the Trans-Canada Highway on June 21 after it failed to negotiate a curve and crashed into the concrete barrier. Photo: Revelstoke RCMP

Revelstoke RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Thomas Blakney reached out to local media following the crash, letting drivers know that they could be fined if they ignore the yellow signs. The driver in the June 21 incident got a $167 ticket.

Blakney said the roads were dry and conditions were good, and incidents like this shouldn’t happen.

So, as a refresher what are the rules with yellow signs again? Here is an explanation from DriveSmartBC:

Drivers are often confused about the difference between a regulatory sign and an advisory sign. A regulatory sign generally has black characters or symbols on a white background and an advisory sign has black characters or symbols on a yellow background. So, what’s the difference?

The regulatory sign must be obeyed exactly as it is read. Examples of regulatory signs include speed limits, turn restrictions, parking restrictions and directional instructions. Failure to obey these signs is an offence and the driver may be charged if they choose not to follow the instruction.

An advisory sign is just that, advice that you may choose to take or ignore as your experience and the conditions dictate. Examples of advisory signs are the speed tabs found under curve signs or the slow sign displayed by flag persons. Failure to obey these signs is only an offence if something happens as a result of ignoring the advice and the offence is generally for the misadventure that occurs.

Also, Blakney added that now that the digital variable speed limit signs are in place on the Trans-Canada west of Revelstoke, drivers will need to heed those signs the same way they do a white speed limit signs.