It’s hard to believe that it is December already, with Christmas coming up in just a few weeks. The holiday season is a wonderful time for visiting friends and family and enjoying the festivities. As we move into the winter season, however, it is important to keep safety on the road in mind as we drive across town, or out of town, to visit our loved ones. Snow and ice conditions can make roads dangerous, but if we take the proper precautions, we can make sure that we and our loved ones stay safe.
For more information on how to prepare for winter driving conditions, WorkSafe BC’s Shift Into Winter campaign is a great place to start. On their website you can find all kinds of information on how to prepare your vehicle for winter conditions and how to prepare yourself for driving in those conditions. Some important tips include checking the current road conditions, which you can do at DriveBC.ca; planning your route ahead of time; leaving plenty of time so you’re not rushing; learning winter road skills ahead of time; leaving plenty of room between you and the vehicles ahead of you; and having an emergency plan in case anything happens. Reminding yourself to do all of these things will improve safety not only for you, but also for everyone else sharing the roads this winter season. For those who enjoy having a drink during the holidays, please remember that driving comes with a responsibility for safety. If you find yourself in a position where you are not one hundred per cent certain that you can drive home safely, please remember Operation Red Nose. This wonderful community program helps get you home safely, and is both confidential and free. A volunteer driver and navigator will come to pick you up and get you home in your own car, so you don’t have to worry about leaving your vehicle behind. I urge you to take advantage of this great program, and enjoy your holidays responsibly.
Let’s all do our part to make sure that this Christmas is as safe as it is enjoyable.
Donna Barnett is the Liberal MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin.