It’s no secret that Squamish is a unique place.
But, as a community with many commuters, where winter could bring snow or rain on any given day and visitors come in droves—sometimes without winter tires—it also attracts some unique driving challenges.
“You’re in a unique position because a lot of drivers from the Lower Mainland may not experience a lot of winter where they are,” said Trace Acres, program director for Road Safety at Work, a WorkSafeBC Injury Reduction Initiative. “And yet all of a sudden, they’re going to drive up the Sea to Sky and hit Squamish and [head] north and be in complete winter driving conditions.”
National Safe Driving Week takes place from Dec. 1 to 7, just ahead of winter and the busy holiday season. Acres said the goal is to remind drivers that safe driving is everyone’s responsibility.
Drivers should think about things like making sure they have the right equipment (including winter tires) and driving to the conditions, not the speed limit.
“At this time of the year you have to remember that speed limits are set under the maximum allowable speed under ideal conditions,” Acres said. “This time of year, conditions aren’t ideal. Prepare yourself and your vehicle and change your attitude from how can I get there as quickly as I can to how can I get there safely?”
Meanwhile, workers who have to drive as part of their job should also know that their vehicle is considered a workplace, he added. “And, therefore, as an employer, you have the same responsibility for ensuring that your employees are safe in the vehicle as you would for ensuring their safety in your office or factory or warehouse,” Acres said.
“So the employer does have a responsibility to ensure that the vehicle is fit for the purpose it is going to be used. That can mean ensuring it’s had a mechanical inspection, a proper servicing for this time of year, ensuring the correct tires are on the vehicle, ensuring the tires are in good condition.”
While everyone should be checking weather forecasts and DriveBC before hitting the road, employees should also speak up about delaying trips if inclement weather is on the way.
If you do have to drive in less-than-ideal conditions an emergency kit is always a good idea, along with a charged cell phone, Acres said.
“We encourage drivers to make sure they have winter boots, a coat, and hat in case you need to get out of your vehicle, but don’t drive in them,” he said. “There’s nothing worse than being in a big, bulky jacket or snow boots and having to drive. A bulky jacket can inhibit movement and shoulder checks. Driving in winter boots can be clunky and hazardous.”
And, of course, there’s another age-old driving hazard: a snowy car that hasn’t been fully brushed off.
“You see it all the time in the winter,” Acres said. “It snowed 10 cm and people just brush off the windshield, but what about the snow on the hood blowing up? And snow on the truck and roof can blow into the vehicle behind you. It’s always a good idea to take a few minutes and clear as much snow as you can off your car.”
