It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but the weather outside can be frightful, making it one of the most dangerous times of the year.
So drivers, take it slow, take it slow, take it slow.
Road Safety at Work has launched its annual Winter Driving Safety campaign, raising awareness about the dangers of not taking extra precautions when traveling on winter roads. Showcasing the risks with ICBC accident claims and the potential additional risks drivers may face.
“Once we get into November, December, the start of winter, that’s when we see the crash rates in B.C increase,” says Trace Acres, the Program Director of Road Safety at work, and spokesperson of the Winter Driving Safety Campaign.
“According to Worksafe BC, the injury rates over the winter months are about 20 per cent higher than the rest of the year. We know there are a lot of hazards, and it’s a very busy time of the year.”
Along with the darker days and nights, Acres says other hazards commonly seen in the Cariboo are black ice and hydroplaning. With winter comes more rain and snow, which melt and accumulate during the day and overnight. The sudden changes of temperature the Cariboo is known for also make predicting if the weather will hold steady a challenge.
Black ice and wet patches can be hidden from drivers’ views in shadier parts of the road and under overpasses. Acres points out that the change in concrete types from road construction also poses a significant risk.
On top of that, the risk of animals crossing the roads and drivers coming out of seemingly nowhere while traveling in the dark always poses one of the highest risks.
“I think understanding just how busy a time of year it is for everyone sharing the road is important,” Acres says. “A lot of people are going to their children’s activities, holiday shopping, and events and gatherings. So make sure to give yourselves plenty of time to get where you are going safely. Avoid distractions, and plan alternate routes for weather changes. Something as simple as adjusting to increase your following distance from the vehicle ahead of you so there is plenty of room in case you need to stop in a hurry can save lives.”
While the majority of ICBC claims, crashes, and other motor vehicle incidents are located in the Lower Mainland, the Northern regions see a large spike during winter.
In the Central Interior, which includes the Cariboo regions and up to Prince Rupert, there have been 1,651 reported car crashes to ICBC between 2020 and 2024, in the month of December.
Across the province, that number is as high as 25,993 car crash reports to ICBC during the holiday month in the same time frame.
Something going on in the Cariboo you think people should know about?
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