How to Make Malahat Safer The debate over how to improve the dangerously narrow and winding Malahat Mountain Highway on South Vancouver Island has been an ongoing issue since its conception in 1861, when it was built as a cattle path, then transformed into a carriage road in 1884 and finally asphalted in 1911 (Commission). Vital safety improvements are currently underway, such as concrete barriers to divide road lanes and stabilization solutions for falling debris. The presence of physical law enforcement units on the highway to handle issues such as cell phone use, disabled drivers, and vehicles ill-equipped for weather conditions is a necessary and crucial part of maintaining safety on the Malahat (Unit). However, because the Malahat is built into the side of a mountain, with sheer cliffs on one side and rocky cliffs on the other, there are very few points from which law enforcement can enforce speed limits. Furthermore, the highway spans many different municipalities and the application suffers from jurisdictional problems (Rondeau). Speeding is a critical safety issue prevalent on the Malahat; Reducing speeding by installing speed cameras will substantially reduce the number of fatal crashes on highways, as well as save precious natural resources and billions of dollars in taxpayer money. Substantial government studies have been conducted to find solutions for the Malahat, ranging from doubling the highway to building bridges across the entrance to the Sannich Peninsula, all of which have severe environmental impacts and are estimated to cost hundreds of millions to billions of dollars (Transport). Twinning or double decking of the current highway would come with many......half of paper......until 2013. http://www.traffic-safety.ca/index.htm Reutter, Mark . “New speed cameras will cost more, not less, from the city's favorite retailer.” April 19, 2013. Baltimore Brew. Network. October 10, 2013. http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2013/04/19/new-speed-cameras-will-cost-more-not-less-from-citys-preferred-vendor/ Rondeau, Andrea. “Two-Week Crackdown Solves Mystery of Malahat Incidents.” July 04, 2007. Cowichan Valley Citizen. Network. 1 October 2013. http://www.cowichanvalleycitizen.com/news/two-week-crackdown-solves-mystery-of-malahat-crashes-1.159199 Transportation, Ministry of. “Final Report on the Trans-Canada Highway 1 Study Area – Malahat Corridor.” Not given July 2007. Web. 10 October 2013. http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/malahat/finalreport/ Unit, Integrated Road Safety Officer. Personal interview, to get an opinion on the issues of Malahat Linda Mather. September 30, 2013. Personal interview.