Traffic safety blitz held on Trans-Canada Highway near Helmcken Road exit

A targeted traffic enforcement blitz was held along the Trans-Canada Highway near Helmcken Road Wednesday morning, one day after two multi-vehicle crashes brought traffic in the area to a standstill.

The enforcement campaign was planned in advance and was not connected to Tuesday evening’s collisions.

Road Safety at Work and the BC Highway Patrol’s Capital Regional District Integrated Road Safety Unit conducted the blitz near the Helmcken Road interchanges.

Officers monitored drivers travelling through an active construction zone, watching for speeding, distracted driving and failures to obey traffic-control directions.

During the two-hour blitz, officers issued 34 tickets, including 16 for cellphone use, eight for travelling more than 20 km/h above the speed limit in a construction zone, five for seatbelt violations, one for another moving violation and four for non-moving violations.

One driver was also handed a four-month driving prohibition.

The initiative was part of Road Safety at Work’s annual Work Zone Safety campaign, which reminds motorists to slow down and remain alert around roadside workers.

“Drivers need to make safe decisions every time they approach a work zone, starting with slowing down and paying attention,” said Trace Acres, program director for Road Safety at Work.

“The people working behind those flashing amber lights and orange cones are doing jobs that keep our roads open and our communities running. They deserve to be able to work safely.”

According to WorkSafeBC statistics, 11 roadside workers were killed and another 263 suffered injuries resulting in time-loss claims across BC between 2016 and 2025.

The blitz came the morning after two separate three-vehicle crashes caused major traffic disruptions along the Trans-Canada Highway.

Saanich Police were initially called to a collision in the northbound lanes of the 1200-block shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday. When officers arrived, they discovered separate crashes had occurred in both directions.

The southbound collision closed all lanes between Helmcken Road and McKenzie Avenue for roughly three hours. Police said two drivers were taken to hospital and all three vehicles were towed.

Two drivers involved in the northbound collision were also taken to hospital as a precaution. Police issued tickets to two drivers for following too closely.

When entering a work zone, drivers are required to follow the posted speed limit, obey signs and traffic-control personnel, remain focused and leave their phones alone.

Under BC’s Slow Down, Move Over law, motorists approaching a stopped vehicle displaying flashing red, blue or amber lights must slow to 70 km/h when the posted limit is 80 km/h or higher. On roads with limits below 80 km/h, drivers must slow to 40 km/h.

Drivers must also move over and provide workers with as much space as possible when it is safe to do so.

“A few extra seconds spent travelling safely through a work zone are insignificant compared with the consequences of a preventable incident,” Acres added.