As temperatures in Langley dip, and the first flurries of the day were seen Thursday afternoon, Jan. 11, the RCMP is reminding drivers to adjust their driving habits for the weather conditions.
“Best practices, particularly when the roads aren’t in ideal conditions, are to slow down,” said Cpl. Craig van Herk, spokesperson with the Langley RCMP.
He suggests drivers give themselves extra time getting to and from places, but also when changing lanes.
“When you’re making those turns, allow extra time and room between you and the vehicle in front of you, because breaking isn’t always ideal.”
Van Herk also reminded that it’s the law to make sure all windows of a vehicle are clear, not just a small portion to see out of.
“Your front, rear, and sides must be cleared before you leave. You have to be able to see through them,” he said.
The fine is $109 and 3-points on a driver’s record for driving while their view is obstructed.
“These are things you can control. We can’t control the weather, or ice forming and puddles and darkness, but you can control the condition of your vehicle and how you are driving,” van Herk commented.
Given the additional factors winter weather brings, he said police do see more crashes when the weather changes like this, but it is preventable by adjusting driving habits.
“We have visibility factors with fog or dirty windows from road dirt and grime spit up on them, it’s a little more difficult to see. And if you haven’t given yourself space, you don’t have the same reaction time,” he said.
Van Herk also noted that pedestrians are a factor to watch out for when driving because sometimes the sidewalks aren’t clear and easily accessible when it snows or is icy.
Warming up your vehicle while finishing getting ready in the morning is great, he said, because it makes it easier to scrape or sometimes not even need to. But, van Herk cautions leaving the vehicle alone while running because it also makes it easier for someone to steal it.
“Make sure the vehicle is secured. We have to be cautious.”
An arctic outflow warning from Environment Canada says frigid windchill that feels like -20C will arrive tonight and last until at least Saturday in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
The B.C. government said earlier this week that residents should prepare for hazardous road conditions, extremely cold temperatures and an increased risk of avalanches.
Extreme cold warnings remain in place for parts of Yukon, the Northwest Territories, B.C., northern Saskatchewan, and all of Alberta.
Gateway of Hope homeless shelter operated by the Salvation Army has opened up space to provide refuge from cold weather conditions.
Gateway of Hope, at 5787 Langley Bypass, operates from 7 p.m. to 10 a.m.
READ MORE: Langley’s Gateway shelter opens ‘extreme weather response’ spaces due to cold weather
RELATED: Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island poised to join rest of B.C. in bitter cold
