Stay safe on the highways, Alberta RCMP urge long weekend drivers

Turns out a lot of people don't work past noon on a Friday leading into the long weekend in southern Alberta,as some highways were filling up fast.

Provincial RCMP are reminding all of those drivers, however, to apply some basic safety tips to ensure we get where we are going.

• 4-year-old boy killed in crash east of Lethbridge
• Fatal Easter weekend crash brings impaired driving charges against Calgary man

Sgt. Darrin Turnbull said enjoy alcohol responsibly,but not before gettingbehind thesteering wheel.

"If you are at a campsite somewhere and you see a friend or family member who has had one or two, make sure you get their keys away from them, help them out, let them know it's not safe to drink and drive," Turnbull said.

Using a mobile device while driving is a growing concern as well.

"Distracted driving is quickly becoming one of our number one priorities," Turnbullsaid.

"It is one of the leading causes of serious injuries and fatal collisions on highways. Make sure you are paying attention. Leave the phone alone, watch where you are going, avoid those distractions and make sure you get yourself and your family to your destination safely."

There will be lots of tourists on Alberta highways this weekend, and we can make them feel welcome by sharing the road, he explained.

"Be aware they are not familiar with our highways, where their next off ramp is. They are trying to follow a GPS.They don't know the area. Give them some extra time and distance. Make sure you are paying attention so that you can react to unexpected moves on their part. That is going to make our highways safer."

• Alberta highway crashes leave 1 dead, 7 injured

Turnbull also warns of a law that some people may not be aware of.

"The speed limit does decrease to 60 km/h in the lane next to an emergency vehicle, so a police vehicle, fire truck, tow truck or an ambulance," he said.

• 1 dead, 2 injured in Memorial Drive crash
• Driver killed and pedestrian injured in Medicine Hat collision

"If you get caught driving in excess of the speed limit the fine doubles, so please slow down and move over."

Speeding wasn't really an option Friday afternoon west of Calgary, due to a mass exodus of drivers heading to mountain destinations.

"Go slow, don't hurry like everybody else is trying to," said Jack Czerski on his way to Windermere, B.C.

"It is not going to get any better.This is probably just the start of it," he said.

"We will get there when we get there."

Canmore-bound Rick Platz saidhe normally steers clear of long weekend highway driving.

"We try to avoid them. I think it might have something to do with the traffic," Platz said.

"Go slow, real slow by the looks of things."

• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |Tractor trailer rollover closes Highway 3 west of Pincher Creek for hours
• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |Airdrie to Calgary police chase leads to lengthy list of charges