It never fails. With the first cold snap of the season, comes plenty of vehicle breakdowns and crashes. BCAA Road Assist has experienced double the normal call volumes since the cold weather streak hit the province, and is asking drivers to prepare for the challenges of driving in cold, icy and snowy conditions.
To avoid falling victim to “old man winter”, BCAA urges you to fully prepare your vehicle and learn the essentials of good winter driving — that is, to stay alert, slow down and stay in control.
BCAA’s top ten winter driving and vehicle prep tips include:

1.  Give your vehicle a winter check-up. Check fluids, tire tread and
inflation, lights, wipers, brakes and check your battery to ensure
the power is there when you need it.

2.  Install four matching winter tires. Don’t mix tires with different
tread patterns, internal construction and size, as it diminishes
vehicle handling.

3.  If you’re heading out on a long trip, pack an emergency kit including
a shovel, extra windshield washer fluid, sand or kitty litter, fuel-
line antifreeze, a thermal blanket, extra clothing and footwear, and
a first-aid kit.

4.  Learn and practice winter driving techniques before you need them. If
you have tire chains, make sure you have practiced installing them
before you’re standing knee-deep in snow.

5.  Plan ahead, check road and weather conditions. If driving is risky,
stay home if you can. If not, proceed with caution and keep your
radio tuned to a local station for ongoing weather advisories.

6.  Remove all snow from your vehicle before each trip, including the
hood, roof, bumpers and lights. Also, ensure your windshield and
windows are free of frost and ice, and are de-fogged before starting
out.

7.  Give yourself extra travel time in bad weather, and whenever
possible, don’t travel alone.

8.  Avoid using overdrive and cruise control on slippery roads. If you’re
driving a four-wheel drive vehicle, don’t drive with a false sense of
security. The four-wheel drive feature reduces your likelihood of
getting stuck, but it won’t help you stop any faster.

9.  Travel with a fully charged cell phone, but don’t talk and drive. Let
someone with you make the call, or pull over to a safe spot to place
a call.

10. Drive for the conditions, not the speed limit. Take it slow and
signal your turns and lane changes well in advance. Increase the
distance between you and the car in front of you. Transport Canada
recommends leaving a distance of 10 car-lengths when driving at
100 km/h in winter.

More winter driving tips and resources can be found on BCAA’s website at www.bcaa.com/winterdriving.