We may have only seen a brief appearance of snow in the North Okanagan yesterday, but with rain in the forecast and cooler temperatures overnight, it’s time to adjust our habits to meet winter conditions.
The City of Vernon reminds motorists to slow down and have patience as you navigate wet roads and slippery sections.
“Just as we heard from our Active Transportation team, ICBC and the RCMP last week, the days are getting shorter and the sun is setting earlier,” said Christy Poirier, manager of Communications and Grants. “Mixing this with wet or slippery road conditions means all of us need to pay even more attention as we are moving about the city from point A to point B.”
But it’s not just after dark that we must be on guard. It’s important to always keep enough distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you, and reduce your speed, to be able to stop safely when necessary.
“Remember to allow yourself more time to get to your destination and drive defensively in winter conditions,” said Poirier.
As we move into winter, the City of Vernon will also do its part to help with safety on city streets. The City of Vernon’s snow and ice program addresses roads on a priority basis in compliance with the Snow and Ice Control Policy. All City roads are divided into priorities as follows:
- Priority 1 Roads - include arterials, collectors, bus routes, school zones and selected problem areas.
- Priority 2 Roads - include all remaining roads except lanes and cul-de-sacs.
- Priority 3 Roads - include lanes and cul-de-sacs.
Depending on the volume and duration of the snow event, response times will vary to allow work crews the appropriate time to respond. Based on the forecasted snowfall, it may be 12 – 36 hours after the end of the snow event before local roads are addressed.
Although City manpower and equipment will be out in full force, drivers are reminded to please use caution and drive according to the road conditions.
Sidewalks and walkways maintained by the City are also cleared on a priority basis in compliance with the Snow and Ice Control Policy.
Sidewalks adjacent to residential and commercial properties are the responsibility of the resident or tenant. Residents and tenants are reminded to please keep the sidewalks safe for pedestrians by shoveling the snow and removing the ice from the sidewalks and foot paths adjacent to their property. When shoveling sidewalks and driveways, please do not pile snow on travel lanes, storm drains, fire hydrants or bus pickup/drop-off areas, as these create issues for travel and safety concerns for the community.
For more information, please see the Snow and Ice web page on the City of Vernon website (www.vernon.ca).