As British Columbians get ready to hit the road ahead of one of busiest holiday weekends of the year, the RCMP are warning travellers to drive safely.
“Police will be out in force throughout the province stopping drivers and checking vehicles to ensure motorists are safe and vehicles are properly equipped to meet winter driving conditions,” the B.C. Highway Patrol said in a Thursday (Oct. 7) press release.
According to the RCMP, 36 people die each year in crashes where drivers are going too fast for road conditions.
Police said that drivers should replace worn windshield wipers and clear windows of fog and snow before driving, as well as turning headlights on to make sure the tail lights come on as well.
For tires, mud and snow (M+S) tires are required on most B.C. highways from Oct. 1 to April 30, aside from some highways in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island that have fewer or no winter tire requirements.
Other tips from police for safe driving this month include:
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated and have sufficient tread depth.
- Do not use cruise control on slippery, wet or snowy roads.
- Slow down when conditions are bad and increase the distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you.
- Be extra vigilant for cyclists and pedestrians.
- Watch out for black ice and leave yourself extra time to get to your destination.
