It is the same thing every winter. Snow + freezing temps = a mess on the highway and local roads.
Earlier this month, the snowy shitshow repeated, and there are receipts.
According to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), for the period of Jan. 31, Feb. 1, and 2, there were a corresponding 12, 13, and 23 claims made for crashes in Squamish. (Obviously, last Sunday saw crashes, but those weren’t yet included.)
Saturday, Feb. 1 and Sunday, Feb. 2, saw widespread snowfall in the region and temperatures dipping to around -7 C, which created hazardous driving conditions.
On Feb. 2, on The Cut between Mountain Highway and Lynn Valley Road, TranBC, which is an arm of the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, reported on X that its crews were helping several vehicles that were attempting the trip without winter tires.
We all know that drivers on the roads without proper tires are a big issue up and down the Sea to Sky Corridor. Proper snow peak or M+S tires are a no-brainer for safe travel.
If drivers don’t have them, the best thing they can do for themselves and the rest of us is to not drive.
However, given so many folks are still hitting the snowy roads regardless, we may need to promote more loudly that folks can use chains.
A recent ICBC survey found that 38% of B.C. respondents didn’t have winter tires when the poll was done in November. (Winter tires are required on the Sea to Sky Highway from Oct. 1 to March 31.)
The top reasons drivers gave for not installing winter tires were the weather in their area not being severe enough (36%), they avoid driving in snow and icy conditions (27%), they plan to put winter tires on later (22%), and the cost of winter tires is too high (19%).
We can tackle the first reason by encouraging drivers to check DriveBC before they head out. The drivers sliding into the ditch on the highway in early February were clearly not avoiding snowy conditions, so let’s ignore that one.
The cost of snow tires is a factor, for sure, to explain why some drivers delay or avoid putting on winter tires.
For the most common size of winter tire (225/65R17), it will cost about $220 each or $880 for four (at the local Canadian Tire). Installation may be an added cost on top of that for some.
Chains are about $200 for a pack of two. (To be installed on the drive wheels.) They are relatively simple to put on.
Of course, there are negatives to chains. You have to drive slowly—below 50 kilometres per hour.
And they can increase wear and tear on the road, which isn’t great.
But, with more cold and snow forecast, ensuring some of “those” no-winter tire drivers have chains beats them sliding into the ditch or each other.
