Keeping safe on the roads this winter

• Have the necessary equipment in your vehicle
• Be aware of road conditions

With winter on the way, drivers are reminded to be ready for major changes on our roads.

The Shift Into Winter campaign is conducted through Road Safety at Work and sponsored by the provincial government to improve safe driving in winter conditions.

Program Director Louise Yako told Kelowna10 people tend to underestimate the season and only think about the snow on the ground.

“Winter also means fog, lots of rain, shorter daylight hours,” Yako said. “When you have winter road conditions, they tend to be a bit riskier. It’s harder to stop your vehicle on ice or in rain or in snowy weather.”

Three-peak mountain snowflake winter tires are mandatory on most of the province's highways from Oct. 1, to April 30. Those who fail to have them on their vehicle could face fines up to $121.

Yako said the weather can change very quickly and preparing you and your vehicle is important.

“Being prepared means you've got the right equipment, you know what you’re going to be doing, you know your route,” Yako explained.

She recommends drivers have a winter emergency kit, as well as extra clothing, windshield fluid, booster cables, blankets, rope, and a flashlight, to name just a few.

Do you really need to make that trip?

However, possibly the most important thing to keep yourself and others safe on the road is prevention.

“Really think about the need to make that trip,” she said. “If the weather is particularly bad, if the road conditions are particularly bad, stay home.”

More tips and resources can be found on the Shift Into Winter website.

Road and weather conditions can be found at drivebc.ca