The safety improvements to highway 14 (West Coast Rd.) have been a welcome addition. The reflective kilometre markers at five km intervals are useful but the ability to communicate this information in a timely fashion to 911 operators is limited once you get past Otter Point and almost impossible past Jordan River.
There is no Canadian cell service and limited American cell service. If you need to contact 911 operators you need to drive to the nearest pay phone or landline which could be multiple kilometres away or you can go through an American 911 operator. It can be anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour before first responders get the call.
I believe the most useful safety improvement would be the addition of cell towers at points along the coast. Most people have cell phones and most cell phones now have GPS and maps. Having an accurate location and direct way to communicate that information would be beneficial to boaters, tourists, hikers, search and rescue, fire departments, BC Ambulance, RCMP and countless others.
The 5 km markers are nice but ultimately only useful to those who know they are there. Time to spend some gas tax and put up some cell towers.
Donovan Ray
Jordan River