Delayed news flash time. Winter isn’t officially here in BC yet, but winter conditions sure are. Whenever the white stuff decks our halls and shopping malls, WorkSafe BC reminds drivers that driving becomes more difficult this time of year, and we need to prepare ourselves for this new road and weather reality. Unfortunately, for some, even though they know they should think about how winter changes driving conditions, they don’t always take the time to understand how. When I say some, I’m including my younger self. Looking back, I realize that I really could have benefited from campaigns like Shift Into Winter when I was a 19 and driving my first and not-so-safe vehicle.

It was a 1978 Celica, and I loved it. The problem was that it was far from the best when it came to being winter condition ready. It was a rear-wheel drive, which was great for acceleration but disastrously bad when you hit a patch of ice. What was worse was that I didn’t change my tires all year round. Driving on icy and snowy roads with summer tires made for a vehicle that slipped right and left more than it drove straight. Luckily, I never hurt others or myself with it. However, I did do some serious damage to a tree due to some nasty black ice, which abruptly ended my love affair with my dear Celica. It was a write off. It took seriously injuring this poor tree (along with my poor car) to convince me to invest in some winter tires as well as some time learning how best to navigate winter in a car.

But unlike me, my car, and the tree, you don’t have to learn the hard way. Do yourself, others, and the trees of BC a solid by reading, watching, and listening to all the winter tips laid out easily at your fingertips on the Shift Into Winter site…

Tips like these:

Install winter Tires

Get your car winter ready with a maintenance check up.

Change your wiper blades to winter blades.

Clear snow and ice from all windows.

Clear snow and ice from all windows, lights, mirrors, hood, and roof.

Make sure your water reservoir is full.

If you have a cell phone, make sure it’s charged, and bring it with you.

Be prepared by packing a winter survival kit.

Keep your gas tank topped up.

If you get stuck in a storm, don’t panic.

These are just a few tips you’ll want to think about when driving in our beautiful province this winter.

If you have any other tips you think are important, why not share them in our comments section below? After all, as I’ve illustrated with my own life, some of us need all the help we can get this winter.