Depending on where you drive in the province, winter road conditions vary, from snow and ice in the north and on high mountain passes, to rain and fog commonly found in the Lower Mainland and southern Vancouver Island.
On average, each year in British Columbia, the number of casualty crashes due to driving too fast for conditions doubles in December compared to October – approximately 246 crashes in December compared to approximately 123 in October (ICBC police-attended crash data 2013-2017).
The winter months of November, December, and January are a dangerous time for people who drive for work. Nearly 28 per cent of all work-related crashes resulting in injury and time loss occur during these three months (WorkSafeBC data 2013 – 2017).
Motor vehicle incidents are the leading cause of traumatic workplace deaths in B.C. Employers with workers who drive company or personal vehicles for work need to prepare now for the possibility of changing road and weather conditions.
Employers’ duties
Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety of their employees and other workers when they operate a company or personal vehicle for work purposes. Among other duties, employers must:
- Develop and implement a written safety policy that addresses work-related winter driving
- Eliminate the hazards associated with winter driving by first exhausting all other means of conducting business such as email, telephone and video conferencing, public transportation etc.
- Ensure workers are aware of the hazards they may be exposed to while driving for work
- Provide workers with the necessary education, information, instruction, training and supervision to keep them safe in winter conditions.
- Ensure that company-owned or leased vehicles are maintained and operated according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Four matched winter tires are required for BC highways.
- Ensure that personal vehicles used for work-related travel are suitable for winter conditions.
Workers’ responsibilities
The duties of workers who drive for work purposes include:
- Taking care while behind the wheel
- Following company safety policies and safe work practices
- Not being impaired by drugs, alcohol or other causes
- Operating the vehicle according to the manufacturer’s instructions and complying with traffic laws
- Checking current highway and weather conditions on ca before heading out
- Reducing speed depending on the conditions. The posted speed limit is the maximum speed under ideal driving conditions. Keep at least four seconds distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to allow plenty of time to brake.
Resources
ShiftintoWinter.ca offers free information and resources to help employers and supervisors comply with their legal responsibilities and reduce the risks their employees face when they drive during winter. There is a guide to address the specific needs of community and home care workers. As well, there is an employer tool kit, tip sheets and tailgate meeting guides, and an online course designed specifically for employers and supervisors.
Download Winter Driving Safety for Community and Home Care Workers [PDF 1 MB]
