Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP

By Shane Clausing

STEP/BEEP

Enforcement Services focusing on safe winter driving, sidewalk clearing in December

Dec 4, 2020 | 1:03 PM

The City of Grande Prairie’s Enforcement Services team has announced their Selected Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) and Bylaw Enforcement Education Program (BEEP) initiatives for the month of December.

Throughout December, the Enforcement Services team is focusing on educating motorists about driving safely in winter weather conditions as a part of STEP.

Sgt. Ross Gear with Enforcement Services says as the snow begins to fly, it’s important to remember that driving in the winter is a different game than driving in the summer.

“What we are asking people to do is be prepared for winter driving. When you start up your vehicle, make sure it’s defrosted and that’s it’s clear enough so you can see. Visibility is very important when you’re driving.”

“The other thing, and I know that I sound like a broken record, is slow down. That’s one of the best tips I can give anybody. It’s going to be icy, it’s going to be slushy, your vehicle is just not going to be able to stop in the same distance as when there are good conditions.”

Gear mentioned that giving yourself lots of time whenever you head out on the road is also important while driving in winter conditions.

“If a trip usually in the summer takes 10 minutes, then give yourself 15 minutes for that trip.”

Some other tips Gear suggested including:

• Keeping your headlights on all the time.
• Signal well in advance of turning to give motorists time to anticipate and react.
• Put on winter tires.
• Leave more space between other vehicles ahead of you.
• Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle if heading out on a lengthy road trip.

This month’s BEEP will focus on encouraging residents to clear their sidewalks in a timely manner.

With more people using the sidewalks because of COVID-19 restrictions, Sgt. Gear says it’s important to be considerate of your fellow residents.

“One of the things you can do is gather up your family and go for a walk, but it makes it difficult when the sidewalks aren’t cleared. So, we’re just asking everyone to be that good citizen, clear your sidewalk so that other people could travel along there.”

Residents are supposed to clear the snow from their sidewalks within 24 hours of whenever the snow stopped falling. Failure to clear snow from your sidewalk can result in a $100 fine.