A group stopped on a runaway lane along the Coquihalla caught the attention of numerous passing drivers on Friday, passing travellers who then took to the internet to warn others that the lanes are not an appropriate place to stop.
A photo of the group was posted on Friday and shows three cars stopped on a runaway lane and what seems to be the group posing for a photo.
“Think wisely before stopping on such a dangerous (highway),” stated one social media post from a passing driver.
Another post said: “People stretching legs, kids running around playing. Please don’t stop and block a runaway lane, if a truck needs it, (it) can’t stop. So dangerous.”
Runaway lanes are a last resort safety measure for vehicles that lose braking power while travelling along steep mountainous highways.
The runaway lane the group stopped at is known as a gravity bed and leads out-of-control vehicles up a slope.
The lane uses the combination of gravity and a bed of gravel to slow down the vehicle and prevent it from sliding backwards.
“It’s important to be familiar with runaway lanes, whether you’re a professional truck driver or an average driver,” reads an excerpt from a government of BC website about runaway lanes.
“Brake loss is more common in commercial transport trucks, but it can happen to any vehicle. And, for obvious reasons, never park your vehicle in, or in front of, a runaway lane.”
More information on runaway lanes can be found online at this link.
