As weather changes, change driving habits

Vancouver is known for its rain. When people from other parts of the country ask how we cope with so much wet weather, many of us just shrug and tell them it’s not that difficult: we adapt.

That includes when we’re behind the wheel. The transition from driving during sunny, dry days in the summer to drizzle and the odd downpour in the fall and winter months can be a challenge.

ICBC warns motorists at this time each year to adjust their driving to the changing road conditions to avoid accidents.

That includes slowing down, leaving more room between the cars in front of us, and watching for cyclists and pedestrians also trying to navigate through poor weather.

According to ICBC, every October there is an average of 49 crashes resulting in injuries or death due to driving too fast for the conditions in the Lower Mainland. That number increases by 29 per cent to 64 accidents in December, as driving conditions worsen.

Police and Speed Watch volunteers across the Lower Mainland are on the lookout for drivers travelling at unsafe speeds.

Drivers are being urged to lower their speed, particularly when the weather is bad.

“When you’re driving in wet weather, slow down and increase your following distance so you have time to react to the unexpected,” says Todd Stone, B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

“Speeding is the leading cause of fatal car crashes in B.C.,” adds Chief Officer Neil Dubord, Chair of the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police Traffic Safety Committee.

He says seven out of 10 speed-related crashes are related to driving too fast for the road conditions.

“That’s why police are out across B.C. looking for drivers travelling too fast for the conditions,” Dubord says.

Drivers should also check out the drivebc.ca website — or their favourite traffic channel — to prepare for the road conditions on their route.

John Dickinson, ICBC’s director of road safety, says drivers should give themselves plenty of travel time to get to their destination, especially when the road conditions are challenging.

Adds Dickinson: “Be on the lookout for pedestrians and cyclists who are harder to see at this time of year.”

Drivers should turn on their headlights during the day when weather is poor and visibility is reduced, which will help to ensure that other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians can see your vehicle approaching.

Experts say it’s also a good idea to check your tire pressure regularly, especially in the fall and winter months. That’s because tire pressure drops in cold weather and underinflated tires can reduce gripping.

We can’t make the rain go away, but we can adjust to it to ensure our own safety on the road, and that of others around us. Be safe out there. Blair Qualey is President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC. You can email him at bqualey@newcardealers.ca