Slow down and be prepared

Snow is already blanketing mountain passes and it won't be long before the valley bottom turns into a winter wonderland.

With the change in weather comes the need for a change in driving. 

Christine Silver, ICBC Road Safety Coordinator says every year in October an average of 28 people are injured or killed in crashes in the Southern Interior due to driving too fast for the conditions.

"That number more than triples to 97 in December as driving conditions worsen."

Each winter RCMP consistently deal with drivers who are ill-prepared for the season and Cst. Kris Clark says havoc hits on the first snow fall.

"That is when we see the most crashes and that is because people aren't prepared to drive in those particular conditions, " says Clark.

"So it is just a reminder that if there is snow on the road, you need to slow down, give a little bit more distance between you and the car in front of you and give yourself more time to get to your destination than you normally would in good conditions."

Seven out of 10 speed-related crashes in BC are caused by driving too fast for the road conditions, such as in rainy, icy or snowy weather.

Throughout November, police and Speed Watch volunteers across BC are asking drivers to slow down and adjust their speed for the conditions.

Silver has a list of helpful tips to keep you safe this season before heading out on the road :

• Proper winter tires with tread
• Ensure windshield wipers operate properly
• Have a full tank of gas

In case of emergency:

• A snow shovel/ brush
• First Aid kit
• A flashlight with extra batteries
• Booster cables
• Extra blankets and clothing
• Candles
• Lighter/matches
• Food and water

Photo: Jennifer Zielinski - Kelowna