District of Peachland staff and council continue to push the province to improve safety along Highway 97 through the community.

Black Press Media spoke to District CAO, Joe Creron, after a fatal collision on Drought Hill the evening of Jan. 25.

sa国际传媒淔irst, let me say on behalf of the district and council and our community, our sincere condolences to the family,sa国际传媒� said Creron.

READ MORE: One dead in two-vehicle crash on Highway 97 near Peachland

sa国际传媒淲e have concerns about the safety of our highway and the district has been asking for a reduction in speed. Isa国际传媒檓 not sure if that would have been the determining factor in the collision that happened last night.sa国际传媒�

Creron added that, in the last two weeks, the district again requested a meeting with the minister of transportation and infrastructure (MOTI).

He noted the district has received several complaints from the community about speeding, and that the ministry has been reluctant to reduce speed limits on the highway.

sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 one of the reasons why our mayor has requested a meeting.sa国际传媒�

Creron said the district would like to see lower and variable speeds starting from the Highway 97/97C interchange, all the way through Peachland.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e going to leave that up to the traffic experts as well as safety, but we will probably give our advice,sa国际传媒� he explained.

The district has been asking MOTI for years to reduce speed limits, and the ministry has provided plans to improve safety at several intersections along the highway.

sa国际传媒淲hich is fantastic, theysa国际传媒檙e improving safety,sa国际传媒� said Creron. sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e not satisfied with all their designssa国际传媒�but the intent is to improve safety.sa国际传媒�

READ MORE: Peachland council asks for reduced speed limits

sa国际传媒淲e also want to say to the minister you have great plans but no budget. You donsa国际传媒檛 have to do it all at once but letsa国际传媒檚 see what we can do to slowly improve safety.sa国际传媒�

According to statistics provided by ICBC, there have been more than 180 crashes between the Highway 97/97C interchange to Hardy Road at Antlers Beach from 2017 to 2022.

More than 150 of those resulted in injuries or fatalities.

Creron added that council also wants to keep the potential for a bypass route around Peachland in front of MOTI.

sa国际传媒淲e want to make sure we keep talking about that because itsa国际传媒檚 an important part of this whole safety plan.sa国际传媒�

READ MORE: Peachland bypass delay called sa国际传媒榙isappointingsa国际传媒�