Be winter ready: ICBC urges drivers to gear down and stay safe on B.C. roads

November 26, 2025

Rain, fog, ice, and snow can make driving a lot more challenging across B.C. over the winter. With darker mornings and afternoons, visibility can be poor, roads can get slick, and conditions can change fast—so it’s time to be prepared and drive according to the conditions.  

Crash numbers spike during the winter as driving conditions worsen. Crashes caused by driving too fast for the conditions jump dramatically – up 79% in December and 64% in January compared to October.*  

“The conditions on our roads can change very quickly this time of year,” said Kathleen Nadalin, ICBC road safety manager. “We urge drivers to slow down, watch for pedestrians, and make sure your vehicle is ready for winter driving.”  

BC Highway Patrol will also be out monitoring our roads to ensure drivers slow down and drive safely in winter conditions.    

“Safe winter driving requires good tires and slower speeds,” says Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. “Check your vehicle and yourself before every trip. If you’re not ready for bad weather, don’t risk a ticket or worse.” 

While winter tires are not mandatory on every route, they are required on certain highways in B.C. ICBC strongly recommends you install winter tires, especially if you live in an area that usually sees snow and ice.    

Winter driving tips:  

• Choose the right tires: Winter tires perform better below 7°C. Look for the Mountain Snowflake or M+S symbol and ensure your tread depth is at least 3.5 mm. Talk to your nearest tire dealer if you’re unsure what tire is right for you.

• Prepare your vehicle: Check lights and wipers, have an ice scraper and brush handy, top up washer fluid, and pack an emergency kit with food, water, warm clothes, a shovel, and traction mats in the event you get stuck in the snow.  

• Plan ahead: Consider not driving when conditions are poor. If you must drive, allow extra travel time to get to your destination and check drivebc.ca for road conditions and potential road closures along your route.  

• Drive for the conditions: Slow down, increase your following distance, and avoid sudden movements – like sharp turns, quick acceleration, and abrupt stops – when roads are slick and visibility is poor. Don’t use cruise control on slippery roads. By driving smoothly and performing maneuvers gradually, you’ll significantly decrease the chances of your vehicle losing traction on the road.  

• Stay alert: Nearly half of all crashes involving pedestrians happen between October and January in B.C. As a driver, look for pedestrians, especially at intersections and near transit stops, and stay focused by keeping your phone out of sight.  

* ICBC crash data and police data is based on five-year average (2020 to 2024). Data includes all crashes due to driving too fast for the conditions in October (131 crashes), December (235 crashes) and January (215 crashes).