Scott Hayes | [email protected]
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
With winter road conditions come expert winter drivers. At least that is how it should be.
There is no harm in a reminder offering the best tips to help drivers make it through several months of slick, snow-covered streets and highways.
In Jasper National Park, Highway 16 and Highway 93 (the Icefields Parkway) both demand a driver鈥檚 full attention at the best of times.
Winter is definitely not the best of times, says Visitor Safety Supervisor Deryl Kelly.
鈥淭he parkway is always a major concern over the winter here,鈥� he said, noting that there is no cell service, no service stations and limited highway services including tow trucks.
Occasionally, there are also wild animals and avalanches or rockslides to create further obstacles and hazards along the way. High winds and heavy drifting are other unforeseeable circumstances that drivers must prepare for.
All-season tires might be OK for getting you from home to the grocery store. On the parkway, Kelley said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 just not enough down there. It鈥檚 a wild place.鈥�
Snow tires are mandatory while chains or cables are highly advisable. Kelly also recommended keeping a well-thought-out safety kit in your vehicle just like he does. It includes a first-aid kit, a sleeping bag, water and snacks, candles and matches, and a satellite two-way texting device.
Planning ahead is the best piece of advice for travel on those roads, and for that, Kelly suggested 511 Alberta. It has the most up-to-date information anywhere. Road closures will inevitably be an issue for the highways and other roads around Jasper National Park, so pay attention to the signs, he said.
Mark Pasternak, chief instructor for driver education with the Alberta Motor Association (AMA), says that being ready doesn鈥檛 stop at whether you have a well-maintained vehicle with proper winter tires or all-season tires.
鈥淭he problem with tires is they鈥檙e still tires. As much as they can add to the scenario, you still have to have good habits otherwise the tires will not work well, obviously, under any conditions.鈥�
There are many pieces of advice that he could offer, but in the interests of keeping it simple, he offered these three: space, speed and vision.
鈥淭he three biggest factors we use to our advantage in every case, but in winter in particular.鈥�
When it comes to vision, Kelly noted that people tend to look ahead but not far enough. Drivers should be able to see distances of 15 seconds ahead when driving on city streets and 30 seconds on the highway whenever possible.
He also suggested seeing to the sides, around and behind your vehicle, which means making sure that all your windows are clear as well as your side mirrors.
鈥淵ou always want to be aware of things that are to the side and behind you, but in particular in the winter, especially when stopping. Anything to do with braking or maneuvers, you want to make sure to glance in the rear-view mirror that no one鈥檚 behind you because if they can鈥檛 stop with you, we鈥檙e going to have a collision that you can鈥檛 really control.鈥�
He said not to rely on the standard driving lights that come on automatically. They are not good enough to help other drivers see you amid the white snow. Turn on your full lights and make sure that your light covers are free of snow as well.
鈥淲e always tend to get comfortable being very close to other drivers 鈥� especially on good days 鈥� for traction, and we think we can stop. But the reality is you don鈥檛 know what the person in front of you鈥檚 reaction time is or what they saw or how much grip they have.鈥�
As driving conditions get worse, you should be adding more and more space between you and other motorists as possible.
The issue of speed ties into vision and space. Vehicles are made for powered speed, but even with all of the technologies built into modern vehicles, speed creates momentum. When you鈥檙e driving on slippery roads, slow down to maintain traction, control weight shift, and minimize the impact that momentum can have.
A full article on AMA鈥檚 winter driving tips can be found at .
