BCAA, BCHP on staying safe on B.C. roads over the holidays

Treacherous winter driving conditions are a no-fun annual holiday tradition, but two local authorities on B.C. roads have advice for how to stay safe.

For Daniel Quigley, senior Manager with BCAA’s road assistance fleet, it’s the busy season.

“Lots of boosts, lots of tires,” Quigley described.

Last winter, in the Lower Mainland alone, BCAA responded to more than 50,000 calls for roadside assistance. And on days with extreme weather, those calls jumped more than 50 per cent.

Quigley says it’s important to be prepared.

“You want to use a good grade ice windshield washer fluid. Also, one of the common items that’s overlooked is just the windshield wipers in general. Have them checked semi-annually or annually, at the very least, because you want to have the best visibility possible. I also highly recommend to have a good set of winter tires on the vehicle.”

Winter tires have been mandatory on most highways since the beginning of October. But even in the city, Quigley says it’s important to have the right tread for the hazards of the season.

Corporal Michael McLaughlin of the BC Highway Patrol says it’s easy for drivers to become complacent.

“Just because you have a vehicle that has extra traction when you’re accelerating — you have to remember that stopping is the real problem,” said McLaughlin.

According to ICBC, the rate of crashes related to speed skyrockets in December — 79 percent higher than in October.

And as road conditions change, the BC Highway Patrol is urging people to slow down.

“The last couple of weeks, we’ve seen a real spike in serious crashes, pedestrian-involved crashes and even fatalities,” said McLaughlin. “And a big reason for that is the winter weather, the darkness, and people not driving appropriately for these winter conditions.”

Even for the shortest of trips, Quigley suggests checking road conditions and having an emergency kit on hand, so you’re not caught in the cold.

“Extra clothes, provisions — have some granola bars and whatnot. Water is a good idea to have on hand. If you can have a little travel shovel, it certainly can come in handy for when we do get snow.”

For those driving up to higher elevations over the weekend, Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a snowfall warning of up to 40 centimetres on the Coquihalla Highway.