Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1056266
Getty Images, iStock WINTER 2018 BCA A .COM 27 Rain A BC winter is a wet winter, especially in coastal regions and the Lower Mainland. Good wiper blades are critical to visibility in everything from light rain to heavy downpours. Replace them every six months to a year, or whenever you notice a decline in performance, like streaking or skipping. You'll want to install winter blades before the season sets in, for their sturdier frames and softer rubber that stays flexible in cold temperatures. If you're out in a heavy downpour that your wipers can't clear, slow down until sightlines through the windshield improve. Moisture buildup on roads raises the risk of hydroplaning, or tires losing contact with the pavement and skimming uncontrolled along the water surface. Properly inflated tires with unworn tread and sipes (small cuts that funnel away water) are your best ally for traction on wet roads, says Miller. Drivers should also avoid using cruise control in heavy downpours, as it can make hydroplaning worse by applying gas, attempting to maintain the preset speed. If your vehicle starts to hydroplane, ease your foot off the gas and hold the wheel steady until your tires regain grip. Sun and glare Those in the Lower Mainland might doubt its existence, but the sun does come out to play during a BC winter, especially in the Interior. "A good example is any day during the winter in Prince George. It's –25°C and sunny, as if it's the middle of summer. The amount of glare you get coming off vehicles, icy roads and snow is quite brutal," says Miller. Shorter hours of daylight also mean we're often driving when the sun is low in the sky, at eye level. As with any condition that reduces visibility, it's safest to decrease speed. Also increase your following distance from the standard two seconds, to three or (clockwise from bottom left) Thick fog blankets Burrard Inlet; traffic and pedestrians mingle in dark, rainy downtown Vancouver; vehicles navigate a snow-coated Trans-Canada Highway; low winter sun rays cause blinding glare through a windshield.