Whether you drive for work or leisure, make safe driving one of your new year's resolutions.

BURNABY, BC, Jan. 9, 2013 /CNW/ - Whether you drive a company vehicle or your own vehicle for work or personal use, you should always practise safe driving habits, especially at this time of year.

Winter weather creates additional hazards for drivers.  Rain, fog, snow and ice increase a driver's chance of being involved in a crash. You can reduce the risk and keep yourself, your family and other road users safe with a few tips from the Winter Driving Safety Alliance:

• Check road and weather conditions before heading out and avoid driving if they are bad. If you can, wait until the weather improves, allow extra travel time, and always drive for the conditions.
• Make sure your vehicle is winterized with four matched winter tires and an emergency survival kit.

Download the following websites to your mobile phone or add them to your web page favourites for quick reference.

• DriveBC.ca is a good source of current road and travel conditions.
• ShiftIntoWinter.ca has tips on how to prepare yourself and your vehicle, and how to drive safely on winter roads.

"One of the best ways to prepare yourself for a winter journey is to check DriveBC before you set out," said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Mary Polak. "With our DriveBC webcams, you can see actual road conditions along your route. You'll also get current weather conditions and travel advisories, so you can make informed travel decisions."

"The Highway Maintenance Contractor Members of the BC Roadbuilders are out on the highways around the clock working for your safety. They see all kinds of risky driving with people speeding and passing when it's not safe," commented Larry Nelson, General Manager, Interior Roads Ltd.  "We are reminding drivers to always drive with care and approach slow moving plow trucks and graders with extra caution."

"Our roadside assistance technicians see first-hand how distressing winter-related breakdowns can be for motorists," says BCAA's Associate Vice President of Road Assist, Ken Cousin. "Drivers need to prepare for winter driving. Wet or freezing conditions make driving more challenging and place added stress on vehicles and can trigger a malfunction or breakdown at the most inopportune time, or worse — contribute to an accident."

Mark Ordeman, WorkSafeBC manager for transportation reminds drivers to always operate their vehicles in a safe manner, regardless if they are driving for work or personal use.  "During the winter months, when we see an increase in road and weather hazards that make driving more dangerous, it is important for drivers to do all they can to reduce their risk of a crash. Prepare yourself and prepare your vehicle."

The Winter Driving Safety Alliance is a joint provincial initiative comprised of organizations committed to improving the safety of drivers during the winter months. They are BCAA Road Safety Foundation, BC Forest Safety Council, BC Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association, BC Trucking Association, Insurance Corporation of BC, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Pacific Coach Lines, RCMP, the Trucking Safety Council of BC and WorkSafeBC.

SOURCE: BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation

Lennea Durant 
Media Relations 
BCAA Road Safety Foundation 
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]

Ally Skinner-Reynolds
Media and Government Relations
WorkSafeBC
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]