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Vehicles still required to have winter tires or chains for designated highways around Hope

Winter tires a requirement until April 30 for mountain passes and high snowfall areas
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According to Road Safety at Work, who manages the Shift into Winter campaign, winter tires or chains are still required near Hope. (Pexels/Pixabay photo)

Spring may be here but don’t make the switch to all-season or summer tires just yet.

According to Road Safety at Work, who manages the Shift into Winter campaign, winter tires or chains are still required near Hope.

With the amount of snow that the area has been seeing these past few weeks, drivers travelling on designated highways around Hope are still required to have winter tires or chains on their cars until March 31. For vehicles travelling on highways located through mountain passes, or high snowfall areas, that requirement extends to April 30.

Highways requiring winter tires or chains are marked with signs and listed online and at DriveBC.ca.

“As spring arrives we naturally start to think about how much longer we need to use winter tires. The answer is based on safety, not the season,” said Trace Acres, spokesperson for the Shift into Winter campaign, in a press release. “The difference in traction can be the difference between you reaching your destination safely or you and your passengers being in a serious crash.

According to the group, winter tires or chains are essential to providing better traction — which increases drivers’ chances of staying safe — when temperatures drop below 7 C and on “wet, snowy, or icy roads.”

In addition to winter tires, the campaign also encourages drivers to make sure their tires are properly inflated and to check their tires’ air pressure, which decreases in cold weather. This decrease can affect braking, steering, and handling — which is why the campaign recommends a tire check once a month.

Drivers are also encouraged to be aware of road and weather conditions by checking reports and DriveBC.ca before driving. Avoid driving if road or weather conditions are poor. And, if drivers can’t avoid driving, have the knowledge and preparedness to drive in the current conditions.

“While we look forward to spring, it’s important to remain prepared for any winter conditions that may still come our way,” said Rob Fleming, the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, in the same press release. “Winter tires are key to keeping people safe on our highways, and they should remain in use where required or when conditions warrant.”

The Shift into Winter campaign is part of Road Safety at Work’s mandate to “help BC employers improve the safety of workers when they drive for work.” The group provides free information and tools for everyone at RoadSafetyAtWork.ca.

READ MORE: Mind flaggers and workers, road safety campaign urges


@KemoneMoodley
kemone.moodley@hopestandard.com

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Kemone Moodley

About the Author: Kemone Moodley

I began working with the Hope Standard on August 2022.
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