By Liam Verster

Road Safety

Smoke, fog & recent rain create potential hazards for Peace Region drivers

Jul 21, 2021 | 12:20 PM

With the recent heatwave in the rearview and still plenty of time for summer activities, the Coalition for Safer Alberta Roads is warning drivers in the Peace Region that there are still lots of potential hazards on the roads.

The past week has seen smoky, hazy conditions caused by wildfires burning throughout Western Canada, followed closely by heavy fog in the mornings in the past few days. Executive Director of the Coalition Debbie Hammond says the particles that make up these conditions can reflect bright lights and advises drivers to not use their high beams.

They should use low beams and fog lights instead.

Hammond says it’s also important for drivers to closely monitor their speeds in those conditions.

“When you’re driving in the fog, it doesn’t feel like you’re going as fast as you might be. In fact, you can actually be driving a lot faster, because the fog makes you feel like you’re slowing down,” said Hammond.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

“So, really be mindful of your speed and decrease speed significantly on our highways because ultimately you can’t see what’s in front of you, and you don’t want to be in the back of a truck before you even realize that the truck is there.”

Hammond says it’s also very important to have the tail lights on to be more visible to other drivers and road users.

Rain has been in the forecast for much of the Peace Region for the past week with Grande Prairie seeing 21 millimetres from July 16 to 20. Hammond says this brought another potential hazard to the roads as hot weather baked oil onto the pavement, especially on high-traffic roads and highways.

Hammond says that oil mixed with recent rain can become slick.

“Be very mindful of that, know that (when) there hasn’t been rain to clean off our roads, that first rainfall, the roads will be like ice almost.”

She adds that along with the oil residual creating a slippery road surface there could be water pooling on the roads from any significant rainfall, creating a hydroplane risk.

Hammond says one of the biggest contributors to hydroplaning is cruise control and advises people not to use the feature in rainy conditions.

“When you’ve got the foot on the peddle… you can start to feel it slow down, you will be in control of how much speed you actually give it to stay up to speed,” said Hammond. “Whereas when you’re in cruise control, the vehicle may start to slow down and then it will kick in, and it’s that kick, if you’re on water or ice, can actually spin your tires and take you out of control.

“So, that’s why when we have rain it is not recommended to use cruise control because you want to be in charge of the vehicle and deciding when to apply the gas, when to apply the brakes because you’re basically driving on water. Your tires aren’t really necessarily connected with the road if there’s a lot of water on the highway, and that’s what makes it dangerous, the fact that you aren’t really in control of the vehicle.”

Hammond also reminds people to have an emergency kit in their vehicles and that a summer kit should include fresh water, non-perishable foods, a small tool kit, first aid kit, battery backups for electronic devices, blankets and/or extra clothing, flashlight and fresh batteries and roadside flares or warning signals.