Be Prepared for Canada's Worst Roads
Canadian truckers don’t have it easy.
Between the late-night to early-morning long hauls, and sharing the road with thousands of smaller vehicles each day, no matter what kind of commercial truck you're riding in, the life of a trucker take a lot of skill and concentration.
Trucking can be a dangerous job, and we’re not just talking cargo theft. Some of the roads many truckers must take are packed with construction delays, potholes, risky turns, steep drops and all sorts of other obstacles. When you’re trying to balance a vehicle that’s bulky and weighs thousands of pounds, like a 2017 Hino 338 or a 2017 Hino 195, it can be a downright stressful job. In fact, there are infamous routes all over Canada that have become known as “Slaughter Alleys”, a nickname that reflects the high number of crashes and fatalities each road and highway is known for.
To keep you alert, we’ve put together a list of the five worst highways in Canada, so you take extra caution, should your journeys as a trucker take you on any of the following:
Highway 5, British Columbia
Nicknamed the “Highway Through Hell”, and locally known as the Coquihalla Pass, Highway 5 in British Columbia, the province’s most dangerous highway, spans a 1.24 km mountain pass. As if random rock slides (as in, huge chunks of ice and rock come flying from the cliffs above) aren’t enough to scare you, this routes’ sharp and twisting turns will do the job, especially in the winter.
Highway 401, Ontario
Let’s face it: you can’t drive more than an hour or so without seeing construction of some sort blocking several lanes on this highway. Going east from Toronto to Montreal, there seems to be no end to construction delays and detours. Highway 401 has earned the nickname “Carnage Alley”, thanks to the numerous sloppy design factors, like gravel shoulders that contribute to median-crossing collisions; long, straight sections that promoted fatigue; endless pavement interruptions; and poor lighting.
Highway 103, Nova Scotia
So many fatalities have occurred on Highway 103 that in 2013, it was renamed the Fishermen’s Memorial Highway. The route will take you along the south shores of the Atlantic Coast, and since 2007, there have been more than 30 deaths as a result of head-on collisions or loss of control. In 2009, the Canadian Automobile Association ranked Highway 103 as the second most dangerous highway in all of Canada.
Highway 63, Alberta
It’s known far and wide as the “Highway of Death”. Countless lives have been lost on Highway 63, which runs for 434 km in northern Alberta. The route begins near Radway after splitting from Highway 28 and runs up past the oil sands of Fort McMurray. Regular users of this highway claim poor driving choices and slow improvements are to blame, and to this date, thousands of crashes (many fatal) have earned this highway a bad reputation.
Autoroute 40, Quebec
Also known as Autoroute Félix-Leclerc, Highway 40 has seen everything from fuel tanker crashes, to pileups and countless collisions. The portion of Autoroute 40 from the Ontario border to Autoroute 25 is part of the Trans-Canada Highway. The highway connects Montreal to Quebec City, making it one of the busiest stretches of the Trans-Canada Highway, and the second busiest highway section overall in Canada after Highway 401 in Toronto.
As a trucker, you have to be prepared for anything the roads throw at you! Spring is just around the corner, which means roads will be busier as everyone is eager to get back out there. Driving conditions are no longer slowed down by snow, and some people might be willing to take a few risks. Be prepared by booking a service appointment for your truck at Somerville Hino. We currently have a great selection of service specials that will get your truck in top shape before you hit the road. Contact us today at 1-(877) 650-6296 or contact us online for more information.
