British Columbia's location as Canada’s Pacific Gateway has benefited both the trucking and rail transportation industries, as most of the goods being shipped through the province to or from the rest of Canada are carried on trucks or by train. Transport Canada play a leadership role in the development of the national highways system. Within British Columbia, 5,456 km of highways are currently designated as part of this system. The province has a total of 201,000 kilometres of road (including freeways, primary highways, provincial highways, arterial roads and local street roads). 

Transport Canada, in cooperation with provincial governments and national safety organizations, continues its efforts to improve road safety in Canada. In 1971, the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Act empowered Transport Canada’s Road Safety Directorate to establish national safety standards for the design and construction of motor vehicles — ensuring Canada’s roads are safe for motor carriers, drivers, passengers, and children. Some of the responsibilities of the Directorate include vehicle safety standards, children's restraint systems, seat belts, fuel consumption ratings, vehicle emissions, road safety publications, national collision statistics, tires and related issues.

Transport Canada’s transportation of dangerous goods services can be accessed through our Transport Canada Centre in New Westminster.

For more information about Road Safety, please contact:

Road Safety
Transport Canada
Place de Ville, Tower C
330 Sparks St.
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0N5
Phone: (613) 998-8616  or 1-800-333-0371