Conditions are slippery throughout the Grande Prairie area, and the RCMP has issued a few safety tips to help drivers stay safe on the roads this winter.
Constable Lou Leroux says winterizing your vehicle doesn’t have to be a headache. He says taking just a few precautions can make the difference between a pleasant wintertime drive and ending up in the ditch.
“I’m certainly an advocate in supporting everyone to have winter tires as soon as possible,” he says. “A lot of people run all seasons which are not necessarily bad, but when it comes to extreme weather conditions, ice, and very cold temperatures, oftentimes the compounds aren’t quite as good performance-wise as actual winter tires.”
Leroux adds that looking for a “three-snowflake” rating when tire shopping is the best way to get on the road when conditions are less than favourable.
According to the constable, patience is another key to safe winter driving. Leroux says that year after year, impatience on icy roads leads to traffic collisions and other incidents, and adding a few extra minutes of travel time can eliminate the need for speed on slippery roads.
“Patience is very important in the wintertime,” he says. “Make sure that you plan ahead, make sure you give yourself enough time to allow for adverse road conditions, slow down, and basically just be very cautious out there.”
“Every year at the beginning of the season we have a few collisions involved with snow plows, simply because people sometimes are impatient and try to pass them when it’s unsafe.”
Last winter, the RCMP conducted a province-wide check-in on vehicles left unattended and running called “Operation Cold Start.” The initiative aimed to bring about awareness of the dangers of leaving a running vehicle unattended, and while the project was called a success, Constable Leroux says an annual reminder is always a good idea for residents.
“Make sure that if you are starting your vehicle, make use of, or if your vehicle is not equipped, seek out perhaps a car starter with security features,” he says. “Do not leave your keys in your vehicle at any time, and also just be cognisant to not leave your vehicle running outside of a store, those kinds of things, and be aware even in your own driveway, if you see any suspicious vehicles because thieves are also aware of this and they’ll sometimes look around for these opportunities for vehicle thefts.”
Ultimately, Leroux maintains the first steps to take every year is switching out your summer tires for a good pair of winters, and staying aware of all the risks associated with winter travel, especially on the highways.
