Drivers urged to be alert this long weekend

Drivers are being urged to be cautious when they take to the roads this Easter long weekend.

Unpredictable weather combined with increased traffic can make for challenging road conditions, even though winter is technically over, according to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia.

The insurer has offered the following tips for a safer drive during the days off:

• Check your vehicle: If this is your first longer drive of the year, remember to check your engine oil, washer fluid, lights and inspect your vehicle tires, including the spare, to make sure they are in good condition and properly inflated.

• Be prepared: Plan your route and visit drivebc.ca to check road and weather conditions before starting your trip. Be realistic about travel times over the long weekend and expect delays. Pack an emergency kit in your vehicle in case you get stuck or stranded.

• Get some rest: Make sure you’re well rested before heading out on a long drive. Take breaks or switch drivers every two hours to avoid fatigue.

• Slow down on wet roads: Allow yourself at least twice the normal braking distance on wet or slippery roads. Avoid driving through flooded or washed out roads.

• Avoid distractions: Spring brings more cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists on our roads. Avoid distractions behind the wheel so you are alert and see all road users. Make important calls and send texts on your cell phone before you start your trip.

• Watch for signs of wildlife: Animals may be feeding on plants near the roadside this spring. Slow down and use caution when you see wildlife on or near a highway, so you have time to react if an animal crosses your path.

On average, 20 people are injured in 130 crashes every year in the north central region over the Easter long weekend, according to ICBC. For the province as a whole, the count is four people killed and 650 injured in 2,300 crashes on average, also according to ICBC.

“It was a really big dump, somewhere between 20 and 30 centimetres,” he said. “We definitely had to groom today with the big machines. It was a full winter day. In spring.”

The fresh snow also got a wash of cold temperatures that will preserve the base that much longer.

“It should extend the season through all of next week which is nice because we had a lot of cancelled school groups throughout the season because of cold temperatures, but this will let us get some of those in after all,” Bowes said. “We have the conditions for basically any kind of nordic skiing you want to do, so you shouldn’t put any of those skis away just yet.”

This weekend will now have an annual Easter event like none other at Otway. “We are calling it a Skister Egg Hunt on Sunday,” said Bowes.

The snow and chill must have felt more like Christmas for all the winter enthusiasts of the area.