By Greg Fry

ICBC: Over half of B.C. drivers don’t have their winter tires on yet

Oct 30, 2017 | 11:42 AM

KAMLOOPS — With snow in the forecast for later this week, a new ICBC survey regarding winter tires has yielded some surprising results.

Despite last year’s snowy and icy weather, it shows that just 48 per cent of drivers in B.C. surveyed plan to or already have put on their winter tires.

This despite the fact serious crashes involving injury or death increased by 10 per cent last year compared to 2015. ICBC attributes the increase to drivers going too fast for road conditions.

The survey also showed almost half of those surveyed (47 per cent) witnessed a crash during the winter weather last year and one quarter admitted to experiencing at least one ‘near miss’ on the road.

In the Southern Interior, casualty crashes due to driving too fast for the conditions quadruple every year as the weather worsens throughout the year.

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In light of these numbers, ICBC has issued the top five challenges for Southern Interior drivers this winter:

• Ice and snow can hit unexepectedly so make sure your tires are rated for the conditions you’ll be driving in this winter. Check your tire pressure regularly.
• When severe winter conditions arrive consider alternatives like public transit. Other alternatives include carpooling or taking a taxi.
• Use your headlights whenever the weather is poor and visibilty is reduced — even during daylight hours.
• Clear off any snow that’s built up on our vehicle’s headlights and wheel wells before driving; it can affect your ability to see and steer.
• Use extreme caution approaching highway maintenance vehicles on the road and never pass on the right.

For tips on how to drive in winter weather, more tips can be found at icbc.com.