‘Drive to the road conditions’: Ways to stay safe driving this winter

The holiday season is well underway across BC, which means gifts, parties, colourful lights and an increase in driving risks.

In total, more than 24,000 crashes were reported to ICBC in December 2023, with 3,422 of the incidents occurring in the Southern Interior (Okanagan, Kamloops and the Kootenays).

Amid the increase in driving risks, Road Safety at Work spokesperson Trace Acres recently stopped by the NowMedia office to discuss how to stay safe on BC roads during the holiday season.

Acres explained that one reason for the increase in risks at this time of year is the variation of weather the province experiences.

“The real danger zone is from about 5℃ to -5℃ because you get so much variation in there,” said Acres.

“It can go from wet roads to frozen roads overnight. You come out in the morning and all of a sudden you’re dealing with frost and pretty slick roads. You have to basically be ready for anything in BC at this time of the year.”

On top of variable weather, Acres also mentioned the importance of driving to the road conditions.

“When winter driving hits, you really have to drive to the road conditions,” said Acres.

“Everybody seems to want to, in any conditions, drive the speed limit, whereas the speed limit is set as the maximum allowable speed under ideal conditions – and during winter, conditions are not ideal, so slow down, give yourself more following distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.”

Another important way to stay safe on the roads this winter is to have proper winter tires because they are made from different materials that allow the tires to have better grip at lower temperatures.

“It’s not just about giving you the traction that you might need in snow,” said Acres.

“It’s softer rubber that will adhere better to the pavement at lower temperatures.”

A few more recommendations from the Road Safety at Work organization include:

• Avoid driving when conditions are poor. They may worsen in an hour or two.
• Know before you go by checking DriveBC.ca for road conditions and weather updates.
• Leave more space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you, so you have more time to react to other drivers.
• Use winter tires even if you’re in an area with little snow. They provide better traction in cold temperatures and on slippery roads.
• Leave your phone alone.
• Be fully rested before long drives. Fatigue can be as dangerous as impaired driving, especially on dark, icy roads.
• Take extra care in busy parking lots, especially after dark.
• Follow your organization’s safe driving procedures if you drive on the job.

Click the above video for a deeper dive into the topics mentioned above and how to stay safe while driving this holiday season.

“We all share the responsibility for making BC’s roads safer during the holiday season,” said Acres.

“Our friends and family members want us home to celebrate with them.”