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Free, public Wi-Fi will soon be installed at a few rest areas in British Columbia.
The province, TELUS and ICBC have partnered to make the technology a reality Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone announced.
"Our rest areas are critical to the tourism industry, as well as the commercial trucking sector by allowing drivers to rest and access washroom facilities," Stone said. "Earlier this month my ministry committed $9 million in funding over three years to improve the safety, comfort and convenience of rest areas.
“These improvements, along with the addition of Wi-Fi will be a key part of ensuring we deliver a
competitive, world-class travel experience to visitors."
In total, 25 rest areas throughout the province will have Wi-Fi installed.
By the spring of 2017, rest stops are Britton Creek, Mt. Terry Foc, Galena Bay, Flacier View and Taylor River will all have Wi-Fi, with the additional 20 sites catching up in the coming years.
ICBC CEO and president Mark Blucher said he hopes the rest stops will help keep drivers connected, keeping them from using their phones on the road.
"More than 800 crashes occur every day in B.C., many of these caused by distracted driving,” he said. “We need help from all British Columbians to help keep roads safe.”
Travellers will be able to identify which rest areas have Wi-Fi by the Wi-Fi graphic on the rest-area sign.
Besides the new Wi-Fi, the Province's 10-year transportation strategy will make sure over 80 per cent of B.C.'s 177 rest areas are wheelchair accessible, 72 per cent are open year-round and 74 per cent are suitable for large commercial traffic.
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