New ICBC data paints a picture of vehicle collision hot spots on the Saanich Peninsula, prompting a reminder for drivers to exercise caution.
Gathered since 2020 and updated in March 2025, the data calls attention to areas of concern and crash frequencies across Central Saanich, Sidney and North Saanich.
Central Saanich has recorded the highest number of crashes on the Peninsula since 2020, totalling 1,195 incidents. Sidney follows in second, registering 728 collisions.
A significant trouble spot in Central Saanich is the intersection of Mt. Newton Cross Road and the Pat Bay Highway, where a staggering 141 crashes have occurred since 2020.
In 2024, Central Saanich saw an increase to 245 crashes from the 232 crashes recorded in the previous year.
Other areas of concern include the intersections of Island View Road and Pat Bay Highway, and Clearview Road at Pat Bay Highway and Tanner Road.
On the Peninsula, Central Saanich also reported the highest number of casualty crashes resulting in injury, with 57 incidents in both 2023 and 2024.
In Sidney, the intersection of Beacon Avenue and Pat Bay Highway is a particular area of concern, accumulating 193 crashes in the last five years.
While the overall number of crashes in Sidney increased slightly to 174 in 2024 from 167 in 2023, the number of casualty crashes resulting in injury saw a decrease, dropping to 35 in 2024 from 42 in 2023.
The top three areas for crashes in Sidney last year were Beacon Avenue and Pat Bay Highway with 53 vehicle crashes, Beacon Avenue and Seventh Street with 13 crashes and seven on Beacon Avenue and Fifth.
In North Saanich, 688 crashes have been recorded since 2020.
The McTavish Road and Pat Bay Highway intersection is the site of the most crashes, at 42.
In 2024, North Saanich experienced a decrease in the total number of crashes to 154, down from 163 in 2023.
Pat Bay Highway and Swartz Bay Road on and off ramps from Lochside Trail, McDonald Park and Wain Road overpass recorded the most number of crash incidents in the last year, at 13.
The number of casualty crashes resulting in injury increased from 31 in 2023 to 39 in 2024.
These statistics represent ICBC's initial data for 2024, released early this month.
A comprehensive update is scheduled for the fall, which will include reconciled data on fatalities and police-reported crashes, gathered in collaboration with the BC Coroner’s Service, BC RCMP and RoadSafetyBC.
This future update will provide a more complete understanding of road safety on the Saanich Peninsula and inform future strategies for accident prevention.
The present data serves as a reminder for drivers to exercise caution, particularly at identified high-risk intersections and to prioritize safe driving practices to mitigate the risk of collisions.
