By Tanya Cronin

Winter driving tips

Jan 7, 2016 | 3:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — For much of the week, Kamloops roads have been covered in a thick blanket of snow, and there has been no shortage of serious accidents around the City. Road and weather conditions can change quickly and it’s important to remember the simplest of safe driving strategies can make the difference when it comes to winter travel.

In the blink of an eye, the City has transformed into a winter wonderland. But with that, whiteouts, black ice, and slush, has turned Kamloops roads into a potential nightmare.  

“Speeding, people not observing, blowing right through stop signs, red lights, not being respectful,” says Sylvia Henderson of Henderson Driving School.

Winter driving can be treacherous, which is why Sylvia Henderson makes it a priority to teach new drivers what to expect when hitting snowy roads.

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“There are a lot of people that don’t have winter tires on and you can tell the ones that don’t because they drive right through the intersection, drive right through the stop sign, just miss pedestrians or oncoming traffic,” says Henderson.

Speed is the number one cause of accidents, especially at this time of the year. Henderson says in a season where the temperatures and conditions can change in an instant, drivers need to be alert and avoid any sudden movements, like slamming on your brakes.  
    
“When people are in a hurry, they hit the brakes rather than pump the brakes and they just slip right through that intersection. Make sure it’s safe, give yourself that extra distance, look over your shoulder, check your rearview mirror, have your signal light on.”

Following a major dump of snow, accidents have been piling up on area roads and it’s proven to be a tough go for motorists this week. 

Last Tuesday, a six vehicle collision near Sun Rivers shut down the highway for hours. One day earlier, an SUV carrying two families from California left the road on Highway 97-C, four of the nine people inside were ejected. Just this week, 32-year old Carmela DeCicco was killed along Westsyde Road on a snowy winters night. RCMP say all drivers need to be aware of the conditions and change their habits to match.

“Temperatures are still below freezing, so we’re experiencing icy conditions even when it’s not snowing out, so you just need to adjust your driving accordingly,” says Cpl. Cheryl Bush of Kamloops RCMP.

Learning to brake around icy corners, shift into neutral during a slide, and pump the breaks when going downhill are all important. But experts say full visibility is crucial, especially when the roads are slick. So keep all this in mind, because afterall it’s better to arrive safely, than not to arrive at all.

“It’s slippery out there, whether you’re walking, whether you’re driving, be patient, take your time,” says Henderson.