With the arrival of winter weather, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) and police are asking Lower Mainland drivers to adjust their driving for the conditions they encounter.
Drivers are urged to slow down, increase following distance and allow extra travel time in bad weather.
According to police data, crashes due to drivers going too fast for the conditions increase by 61 per cent in January in the Lower Mainland compared to October.
The ICBC has issued the following advice to drivers:
- Make sure your vehicle is prepared for winter including winter tires for driving in snow and ice.
- The key to driving in snowy and icy conditions is to drive slow and steady, avoiding any unexpected sudden movements that could cause you to skid or lose control.
- Be patient and allow extra travel time to get to your destination.
- Beware of black ice when temperatures near freezing.
- When heavy winter conditions hit, consider alternatives to driving if possible: take public transit, arrange a taxi or ride-hailing service if you’re not comfortable driving, work from home if you are able to or wait until the road crews have cleared the major roads.
A recent survey conducted by the ICBC has shown just over three quarters of Lower Mainland drivers have prepared their vehicle for winter driving conditions this season by installing winter tires.
Survey respondents’ top concerns when driving in the winter were encountering icy roads (78 per cent), freezing rain (58 per cent) and decreased visibility (35 per cent).
In addition, respondents were most concerned about human factors including: other drivers who don’t slow down and adjust their driving behaviour (73 per cent), drivers who don’t know how to drive in snow and ice (71 per cent), and inconsiderate or aggressive drivers (46 per cent).
