Recent weather brought snow, sleet and rain in some places around the East Kootenay, resulting in treacherous, slippery road conditions.
Drive BC says winter driving conditions have been reported along highways all across the region, including the Elk Valley, Kootenay National Park, Highway 3 and Highway 3/93.
BC Highway Patrol Corporal Michael McLaughlin says you should be especially cautious when you are driving on the highway during the winter months.
“It’s important to slow down, but make sure you’re using your own eyes and you’re fully aware of the road and not relying on cruise control, which does not know when you’re coming up to a slippery turn,” said McLaughlin.
You also should increase your following distance to at least four seconds between yourself and the vehicle ahead of you.
“Driving in winter is fundamentally different than other times of the year. You have to take a few minutes before you drive to make sure your vehicle is ready and not covered in snow,” said McLaughlin.
“Make sure you have good tires and drive slower. You never know what’s going to happen if you try to rush.”
McLaughlin adds that you should not use cruise control when you are driving in slippery conditions.
If you are heading through mountain passes, be sure to check road and weather conditions ahead of time, as they can be especially dangerous.
“Mountain passes are particularly troublesome in the winter, so it’s important to slow down and give yourself time,” explained McLaughlin.
“There’s generally a lot more wind in the passes, so your visibility is going to be limited as well. You also should remove all of your snow from your vehicle, you don’t want that blowing around, too.”
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