Ministry of Transportation reminder to "Think Winter Driving"

We're not yet even into December and already those travelling east bound have had to put their winter driving skills to work, particularly as the Terrace/Kitimat to Smithers corridor has seen significant accumulation of snow over the last two weeks.

Towards proper winter driving, the Ministry of Transportation and RCMP were on the roads in the Skeena District, conducing a winter tire check, ensuring that those who are travelling the highways have equipped their vehicles with the proper tires.

Northwest RCMP and Ministry of Highways personnel were busy over the
weekend checking motorists vehicles to ensure that they were winter ready

Motorists that travel the highways of the Northwest, should have had their tire changeover complete as of October 1st, which was the date that those driving east of the Port Edward turn off were to take care of their winter duties.

Towards the driving in winter theme, the Ministry has provided for some Winter Driving guidelines to follow to provide for a safe transit to and from your destination. Among their notes is a look at Five of the things travellers could do without as they set about to their trips down the highway.

Black ice
Dead batteries
Reduced visibility
Sudden weather changes
Slush… cold, nasty slush

The full overview of winter driving notes can be reviewed here.

Earlier this month, Darrell Gunn the Terrace based manager of the Skeena District for the Ministry spoke at Prince Rupert City Council to provide a review of the winter plan from the Ministry and to introduce residents of the North Coast to the Shift to Winter program.

You can review his presentation to Council from our blog item of November here.

The background to the Shift to Winter program is available here.

For those travelling the highways, the latest conditions are available through the Drive BC website and twitter feed.

We also host a link to the Northwest highway cams for Highway 16, 37 South to Kitimat and into the Nass Valley, which is available here, for a quick glimpse into conditions at any time.

Our Highway 16 archive also offers up a range of items of interest related to transportation along the corridor between Prince Rupert and Prince George.