With snow and fog already in the province's upper reaches, now is the time to prepare yourself and your vehicle for winter driving.

Alan Dengis of the Central Okanagan Traffic Services Unit passes along these tips to get your car ready for the season:

Expect that trips will take longer and that you will be driving slower
Drive with your headlights on, not just your daytime running lights, in order to engage the rear tail lights
Make sure your headlights and tail lights are clear of snow
When driving on ice or snow, allow plenty of room to stop and start
Maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and other vehicles
Don't use cruise control on slick highways to prevent losing control of your vehicle
Use the DriveBC website to check the condition of routes you may be considering
Recognize that the speed limits on highways are under ideal conditions.
Snow tires are a must in winter and especially on the highways.

Snow tires are now mandatory in B.C. when driving on mountainous roads from Oct. 1 to April 30. Failure to do so will result in a $121 fine.