October has arrived and that means drivers now need winter tires to travel most of BC's highways.
Winter tire regulations are officially in effect across the province and will remain so until at least March 2023.
Most of BC’s highways, except for a few in the Lower Mainland and southern part of Vancouver Island, are subject to these regulations.
This includes highways in northern BC, the Interior, the south coast like the Sea to Sky Highway and the Malahat on the Island.
As of Saturday, October 1st, the Designated Winter Tire & Chain Routes in #BritishColumbia are in effect.
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) September 26, 2022
Regulatory signs are posted on these Routes throughout #BritishColumbia.
When road conditions change, your speed should also.#ShiftIntoWinter❄️
ℹ️https://t.co/XZPoXiF8nx pic.twitter.com/DNxSNtCEy8
Signs will be posted along winter tire routes.
Drivers should ensure their tires are either M+S or have the mountain/snowflake symbol.
Winter tires should also have at least 3.5mm of tread depth.
Drivers who fail to make sure they have appropriate winter tires run the risk of receiving a fine of $121.
“Winter tires provide better traction and stopping performance than summer tires in cold temperatures and on wet, snowy, and icy roads,” explains the province.
“Traction may be the difference between safely driving on winter roads and being involved in a serious crash.”
Drivers will need to keep their winter tires on until Mar. 31, however, some highways require them until April 30.
For more information, click here.
