BCAA

28 BCA A .COM WINTER 2017 iStock Better Late than Never If you haven't already taken these steps to winterize your vehicle, there's no time like the present AUTOMOTIVE Roadside workers p.27 L ast winter was one of BC's coldest and snowiest in decades, and BCAA's Road Assist drivers felt the pinch. On the busiest days, call volumes jumped from an average of 2,000 a day to 3,000 across the province, and there were roughly 14,000 more calls, total, during the winter months than normal. The majority of calls came down to the fact that vehicles weren't prepared, says Dave Weloy, BCAA's Senior Manager of Automotive Safety and Training. "Vehicles weren't properly equipped for the snow and winter conditions we faced last year," he says. "We did a lot of recoveries from ditches and driveways; just trying to clear roads and get people safely mobile." Winter 2017 may already have begun, but it's not too late for a few smart measures to see your vehicle and passengers safely through the season. Tires: go winter or stay home By Weloy's estimation, a lack of proper tires was the number one reason for rescue calls last winter. So pick up a set of winter tires – the kind with a mountain-and-snowflake icon printed on the sidewall. These are ideal when temperatures drop below 7°C. True winter tires employ a softer rubber that grips the road in cold temperatures, whereas all-seasons harden and lose traction. "Unfortunately, because of the initial cost, a lot of people just don't go there," says Weloy. If you opt not to install winter tires, you need to be realistic about what you can and can't do in your vehicle, he adds – and that might mean not driving in harsh weather at all. "The smart people stay home and just don't drive when conditions aren't appropriate for their all-season tires," says Weloy. But sometimes the temptation

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