Cooler nights and wetter roads are coming to Vancouver Island, and that means it’s time for drivers to remember winter tire requirements on several island highways starting October 1st.
Provincial law requires winter tires on many major routes through spring, even without snow or ice. This includes mountain passes, inland highways, and northern areas.
The aim is to make sure vehicles have enough grip when temperatures drop and conditions change quickly.
“Winter tires are only as good as their condition,” said Trace Acres, spokesperson for Road Safety at Work’s annual Winter Driving Safety campaign.
“Worn or damaged tires can be just as dangerous as having no winter tires at all.”
Drivers must have winter tires on most BC highways from October 1st to March 31st. On some high-snowfall routes, this requirement lasts until April 30th.
On Vancouver Island, this applies to highways leading to the north part of the island, Port Alberni, and the Malahat.
The province offer a map that show all the areas where these rules apply.
BC law sets a minimum tread depth of 3.5 mm for winter tires, but Acres stresses that drivers should also look for cracks, bulges, or uneven wear.
“A few minutes checking tread and condition can make the difference between stopping safely and sliding into a crash,” he said.
All-season tires start to lose their grip when temperatures drop below 7°C. This happens long before the first snowfall.
Tires that have the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol offer the best performance in winter conditions. However, “M+S” (mud and snow) tires still meet the minimum legal standard.
For the hundreds of thousands of British Columbians who drive for work, winter driving is crucial. WorkSafeBC data shows that injury claims from work-related crashes rise by about 20% during the winter months.
Employers must ensure that staff who drive for work, whether in company or personal vehicles, are trained and equipped for winter conditions.
With the October 1st deadline approaching, Road Safety at Work suggests booking installation appointments early to dodge the seasonal rush at tire shops. Proper tire inflation is important, as air pressure usually drops when the weather gets cooler.
“Winter weather doesn’t wait for the calendar, and neither should drivers,” Acres said.
For more information, including maps of winter tire routes and safety tips, visit RoadSafetyAtWork.ca/Winter.
