Winter is here, and you should now
have winter tires on your vehicle.
In fact, if you are driving on highways
with winter travel signs you must have winter
tires or carry chains from Oct. 1 to April 30.
On the RCMP’s winter driving tips
webpage (Get a Grip…with Winter
Tires) they ask: Do I really need winter
tires? e answer is a resounding yes.
Here’s why: Rubber tends to harden
in cold weather thus reducing friction
and stopping capability of the vehicle.
e new generation winter tires maintain
their elasticity and gripping power
at lower temperatures (-35 C and below),
whereas all season tires tend to sti en
and lose gripping power around 0 C.
A study showed that winter tires reduce
stopping distances by up to 25 per
cent or between two to three car lengths.
at could be the di erence between a
safe stop and a fender bender or worse.
Kate Trotter, public a airs o cer for the
Ministry of Transportation
and Infrastructure,
urges motorists to
“know before they go”
by checking DriveBC
for info about highway
conditions and weather.
Other tips from the
RCMP site:
• Get your vehicle
ready for winter in Fall
• Don’t drive under
the in uence
• Pack an emergency
kit
• Learn and practice
winter driving techniques
before you need
them
• Plan your trip and tell your friends
and family. Check road and weather conditions
• Avoid using overdrive and cruise
control on slippery roads
• Travel with a fully charged cell phone
for emergency situations
• SLOW DOWN and WEAR your
seatbelt
Now here’s three things not do when
winter driving, according to the Ministry
of Transportation and Infrastructure:
1. Don’t get too close to sanding/salting
trucks
If you nd yourself behind
a plow, keep a safe distance behind
it—200 feet at the least.
Visibility near the plow will
be greatly reduced because of
blowing snow, and if you’re following
too close, you’ll fall into
the plow driver’s blind spot.
Also, keep in mind that the
plow may be spreading winter
abrasive (small rocks) on the
road. Travelling too close could
increase the danger of damaging your
windshield.
2. Never pass a winter maintenance
vehicle of the right
Plows generally are travelling relatively
slowly and it might be tempting to try
and pass them. But these vehicles o en
have attachments, like wind plows, which
can reach 10-12 feet to the right, so if you
have to pass a winter maintenance vehicle,
wait until it’s safe and pass on the le .
3. Don’t expect ice to melt as soon as
it’s sanded.