Five accidents occur in first storm
Most involved one vehicle, with only minor injuries reported
The first big snowstorm of the winter is usually when Islanders relearn the need to adjust their speed, said RCMP Const. Jamie Parsons.
There were at least five accidents across the province on Saturday, when parts of P.E.I. saw close to 30 cm of snow overnight.
Most were single-vehicle accidents with only minor injuries, Parsons said.
“Some of the vehicles, though, the airbags were deployed ... so it was significant enough to cause the airbags to go off.”
One collision in Kensington involved two vehicles, with one sliding into the rear or another due to the slippery conditions and there was a single-vehicle accident in Prince County near Brooklyn where a car slid off the road.
There were also two single-vehicle accidents in the Peakes area of Kings County.
Conditions worsened rapidly throughout the afternoon, said Const. Parsons
“Once it started, the roads did start deteriorating pretty quick, (with snow) sticking to the roads and stuff, but we were fortunate the winds weren’t really high because the visibility wasn’t too, too bad.”
Even with the conditions, Parsons said he issued a few speeding tickets in the afternoon.
He also had some advice for folks before heading out on the road in stormy weather.
“I’d remind people to check the conditions of their tires for sure, that’s very important to have good tires on your car, and adjust your speed to the speed limit or lower depending on the conditions.”
He also said people should clear their vehicles of snow well before driving after a storm, including the roof, which can be dangerous when it blows off while driving.