THE TRANSPORTATION ministry has cancelled plans to set up a tire check roadblock tomorrow.
Citing an incoming snowstorm, local transportation manager Don Ramsay said he didn’t want people getting in the way of the ability of the maintenance contractor to do its job.
“And there would be other people who may also be needed on the road to do their jobs,” he said referring to RCMP officers.
The plan had been for transportation ministry officials, commercial vehicle inspectors, police officers and people from maintenance contractor Nechako Northcoast to check for snow tires at a roadblock tomorrow morning at the intersection of Hwy16 and Hwy113 (the Kalum Lake Road).
A similar check was done last Saturday at Onion Lake between Terrace and Kitimat.
Officials there found that 118 vehicles had proper winter tires, 60 had tires rated for mud and snow (essentially all season tires) and seven vehicles still had summer tires.
Winter tires are considered mandatory between Terrace and Kitimat on Hwy37 South.
A driver of a vehicle not equipped with winter tires could face fines and have troubles with insurance coverage in case of an accident.
Ramsay doubted tomorrow’s planned tire check would be rescheduled.
“The time for them is really before the snow falls so people know they should get ready,” he said.
And for anyone still without winter tires, Ramsay had this advice: “Stay home. Don’t drive.”
