Unpredictable road conditions and busy highways on tap for the long weekend

Travelling on the long weekend is always an adventure, but challenging road conditions make the upcoming one even trickier.

ICBC is cautioning B.C. drivers ahead of the Thanksgiving long weekend, as summer has come and gone and many of the province’s highways are starting to see snow.

“Snow, sleet, rain, hail and fog are just some of the challenging fall conditions you should be prepared for on B.C. roads if you'll be travelling this Thanksgiving long weekend,” reads a statement from ICBC.

“On average, four people are killed and 650 people are injured in 2,100 crashes in B.C. over Thanksgiving long weekend.”

Those numbers are based on numbers from ICBC between 2013 and 2016, although the fatalities are from police numbers between the years of 2012 and 2016.

As of Oct. 1, drivers are required to use winter tires on many B.C. highways, so if you plan on travelling out of town make sure you have the proper tires.

Here are a few more tips from ICBC on how to stay safe on the roads this weekend:

• Know your route. - Weather is unpredictable and varies greatly at this time of year so check road and weather conditions before your trip at drivebc.ca.
• Prepare your vehicle. - With summer weather long over in parts of the province, make sure your vehicle's seasonally prepared. It's just as important to prepare your vehicle as it is to adjust your speed for the road conditions. Make sure your vehicle's headlights and taillights are in working order, keep wiper fluid topped up for clearer visibility and don't drive with badly worn or under-inflated tires.
• Need winter tires? - Winter tires are now required on many B.C. highways. Winter tires are labelled with either the mountain/snowflake symbol or the mud and snow designation (M&S). They must also be in good condition with a minimum tread depth of 3.5 mm.
• Slow down. - Posted speed limits are for ideal road conditions. When driving on snow, ice, slush or in rain or fog, slow down. Allow yourself at least twice the normal braking distance on wet or slippery roads and avoid driving through flooded or washed out roads.
• Take a break from your phone. - Let calls go to voicemail and ignore your notifications while driving. If you have to take a call, pull over when it's safe to do so; stay focused on the road and keep the conversation brief. Make sure you're focused on driving before re-entering traffic.