Road Safety at Work urges safe winter driving habits

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — As part of its National Safe Driving Week awareness campaign, Road Safety at Work issued a media release on December 2nd about how to stay safe this winter.

According to Road Safety at Work, 24,534 crashes were reported to ICBC last December, an average of 800 a day. That figure includes 1,554 crashes in British Columbia’s North Central region.

The service says driving too fast is one of the major contributors to vehicle crashes in the winter season. 

“Rushing to your destination while driving might seem like a way to save time when you’ve got a lot to do, but it greatly increases the risk of a crash,” says Trace Acres, program director for Road Safety at Work.

Acres encourages drivers to slow down to ensure safety. 

“Slowing down and giving yourself extra time is one of the best ways to help ensure you and your loved ones travel safely this holiday season.”

Work-related crashes increase by 26 per cent during the winter months, according to WorkSafeBC.

Beyond simply slowing down, motorists are also encouraged to avoid driving under poor weather conditions, check road conditions ahead of time with DriveBC, and distance themselves from other drivers on the road. 

“We all share the responsibility for making BC’s roads safer during the holiday season,” says Acres. “Our friends and family members want us home to celebrate with them.”

Other tips include staying rested before long drives, avoiding using smartphones while driving, using winter tires, and driving carefully in busy parking lots.

More safety tips can be found here.