Last week’s first major dump of snow of the season has left many of us wondering whatever happened to fall.
Seems as though we have skipped straight from summer to winter, with conditions not expected to improve much any time soon.
Not surprisingly, traffic chaos ensued on major highways as commuters apparently forgot how to deal with the challenging conditions after just a few short months of summer.
And despite some sunny weather during the few days immediately following the snowfall, the forecast was calling for a return to snow and scattered flurries this week.
That means anyone who has not already done so should consider scheduling an appointment to switch out his or her all season tires with properly treaded winter tires.
Especially those who get around with a two-wheel drive vehicle, which in icy and slippery conditions can easily slip out of control even with the slightest amount of excess speed. Motorists who do not have a four-wheel drive or winter tires are encouraged to proceed with extreme caution. Whatever the speed limit might be, stay below it.
Above and beyond driving slower in such conditions, motorists are also reminded to allow greater distances between vehicles to accommodate the longer stopping time that is required to safely slow down in snow and ice.
Even drivers who have vehicles with good traction are reminded that operating a four-by-four with winter tires does not mean having an automatic carte blanche to drive at breakneck speeds, recklessly zooming past others who are exercising caution.
Every year, the ditches end up littered with beefy pickups whose superior traction amounted to absolutely nothing after sliding and spinning out of control over a patch of black ice.
In such instances, those who are lucky merely end up in the ditch with the headache of an unpleasant bill to tow the vehicle out.
But those who are not quite so fortunate can just as easily wind up crossing the centre line and colliding with completely unsuspecting oncoming drivers.
While good traction undeniably provides a much greater level of control on slippery roads, overconfidence and bravado all too often result in tragedy.
Of course there is a substantial cost to upgrading to winter tires. We think the government should for safety’s sake offer some kind of incentive program for Albertans who cannot afford them.
The expense would no doubt be recovered — or at least substantially offset — in massive savings resulting from fewer collisions and subsequent hospitalizations.
Even if such a subsidy cost taxpayers a few extra bucks, would the investment not be worth all of the lives saved?
— Ducatel is the Round Up’s editor
