While many of our employees can work indoors over the winter months there are some of you who have to work outside regardless of the unpleasant and unpredictable winter conditions. When working (or playing) at this time of year, please keep in mind the following safe driving precautions:

Be Prepared!

• Plan your trip: check the weather forecast, allow plenty of time, aim to drive during daylight hours, and ensure someone knows where you are going or use the check-in service (and notify them if your plans change!).
• Ensure your vehicle is well maintained and equipped for winter conditions: ensure you have a full tank of fuel whenever you leave town, and are using the appropriate tires, wiper blades, shovel, winch, fluids, safety gear, etc.for the type of vehicle and roads being traveled.
• Make sure you are well rested, have eaten well, and are dressed for the potential weather; driving in winter weather conditions can cause physical and mental fatigue and reduces reaction times.
• Wear quality sunglasses, as they can help highlight changes in the terrain and road surface even in low visibility conditions.
• Carry a personal survival kit including food, water and a blanket; customize your kit depending on the type of work you are doing i.e. if working on backroads be prepared to have supplies to last for at least 24 hours.

Be Alert!

• Allow at least four seconds between you and other moving vehicles; this will give you more time to react when other vehicles around you lose control.
• When stopped, leave a car length between you and the car in front of you. This space provides a good margin of safety as it will allow you to pull forward if a vehicle approaching from behind begins to slide.
• Look further ahead in traffic than you normally do. Actions by cars and trucks ahead will alert you quicker to problems and give you a split-second extra time to react.

Avoid trouble!

• Control skids through steering - not braking! Read the BC Ministry of Forests Winter Driving handbook (link at the bottom of this page) for excellent explanations of winter driving skills. Practice driving in winter conditions in a controlled situation until you are comfortable, before heading out on the main roads.
• Turn off your cruise control & overdrive features when driving in slippery conditions (snow, ice, slush and rain)
• Plan your way out, before you park, turn vehicle around and face the way you came in. Move the vehicle back and forth 1 to 2 meters, this packs the heavy snow for easier starting.
• Always approach intersections cautiously; intersections are especially vulnerable to freeze up since moisture emitted from car exhausts quickly freezes on the pavement.

And if an accident is unavoidable…

Look for a quick way out of any major collision; most times the snow bank will be a lot softer than the fully loaded logging truck coming your way.

If A Blizzard Traps You in Your Vehicle…

Stay in the vehicle if you are in unfamiliar territory. Disorientation comes quickly in blowing and drifting snow. You are more likely to be found in your vehicle than you are to find your way through open country. Avoid overexerting yourself from attempting to push your car, shoveling heavy drifts, etc.  Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning. Run the engine and heater sparingly, and only with a window lightly open for ventilation. Turn on the dome light at night to make your car more visible to working or rescue crews. Or hang a bright coloured object from the antenna.