It Ain’t Over Yet
Typical scene yesterday in P.G. taillights covered in snow, drivers driving without lights on, lots of snow, and poor visibility – photo courtesy RCMP
Prince George, B.C.- So this is what it must be like to live inside a snow globe! The snow just keeps on coming, although not quite as fast and furious as the past two days when Prince George was hit with as much as 36 centimetres of the white stuff.
Environment Canada says we can expect as much as another 4 centimetres today, a further 5-10 centimetres overnight.
Tomorrow looks a little more promising, with the forecast calling for a 60% chance of flurries, while Sunday appears to be the first day that will give us a break with the weather expected to be mild ( high of plus 1) and a mix of sunshine and clouds.
Monday, it’s back to the snow blower, with a 60% chance of flurries, or RAIN, same probability for flurries on Tuesday and Wednesday.
( at right, Pontiac vehicle sits high atop a windrow on 4th Avenue – photo 250News)
City crews are expected to be out all weekend, trying to clean up the mess. Prince George RCMP are reminding folks to slow down and drive ( if you must) according to the conditions.
Here are some other tips from the RCMP:
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Don't drive if you don't have to. If possible, reschedule plans and run errands on another day. If you must go out, try to get everything done in one trip;
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Be prepared. This means having your vehicles properly equipped long before the snow falls. Proper winter tires with adequate tread, fully functioning lights and an emergency kit are essentials;
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Listen to the forecast. If snow is in Mother Nature's plans, get up earlier in order to prepare for the commute. Properly clear off your vehicle's windows so that you have full vision. In addition, ensure all your vehicle's lights are clear (and being used) so that other drivers can see you;
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Leave earlier. Plan to leave earlier so that you can take your time getting to your destination. Your commute will be improved and safer if you travel before the busy times;
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Slow down. Take your time getting to your destination. Most collisions in snowy conditions could be avoided if drivers slow down and drive to the conditions. If you’re late, being later may save your life;
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Use 4 wheel drive. If you have it, most people use it. It obviously allows drivers to have better mobility, but it does not allow drivers to stop quicker than any other vehicle on the road;
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Use chains. If you have chains use them. Far too often Police say they see commercial tractor trailers units attempting to travel up a hill without chains on the tires. Often this results in stuck or jackknifed trucks slowing the commute for everyone else. You're professional drivers, the safety of everyone on the road is of greatest importance; ( at right, chip truck slid off PG Pulpmill Road into the ditch yesterday – photo submitted)
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Being involved in a collision sucks. When it happens , a driver’s focus often is on their vehicle instead of the surroundings. Please take a deep breath and ensure that if it happens to you, you don't step out into traffic and put yourself at greater risk. Make sure approaching vehicles can see you and your vehicle;
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Most collisions don't need to be reported to the police. Collisions where no one is hurt and where the vehicles are drivable, do not need to be reported to the police. Call ICBC or your insurance provider and report your claim. Always a good idea to take a photo or two;
Although snowy days are extra busy for police, police say they will be issuing violation tickets and towing vehicles in cases where drivers are not adhering to the rules of the road or where vehicles are not safe to be on the road.
Comments
Into day 3 and still no snow plow on my rural road east of town. Many 4x4s not making it either.
Chains are not always needed when its just snow. The trucks stick to the road excellent on snow covered pavement. Its the wet snow that never stops and gets packed and then washboard, greased up, and pot hole filled.
The problem we have today arises when its close to freezing and the hard pack ice cap on the roads develops, and then its the washboard effect where the vibrations can take away steering… that’s what we have out there now. In these conditions chains do very little to help with steering, and speed becomes the biggest factor for control.
With chains on a rule of thumb is 50kph maximum speed before chains can become compromised (depending on how well they are put on) and with chains this can cause a whole number of problems (ie air lines, 5th wheel pins, wrapped around axle ect ect meaning dead in the water where it happens)… so traveling great distances with chains on isn’t always practical, and carries other potential unknown risks to consider.
That said with the hard packed washboard 30-40 kph becomes the safe speed, and why not have the chains on for longer distances other than hills if its slow going.
My hope is they get the graders working triple time before the big freeze up next week, and they get at it while we have the warm weather.
WHERE has the City been plowing??/ all of dntn by 3 pm still wasn’t plowed. Was up in CH and the same there.. Gotta commend Yellowhead Road and Bridge for doing a great job on the highways. As of this morning, appears none of the bus routes been plowed. Maybe internal work to rule already happening???
Most trucks just use triples on the rear and no singles on the front in PG, they are just looking for traction to climb and descend hills safely.
The highways felt like early spring gravel roads last night. Bus routes were plowed with one swipe last night
School bus routes that is
ohhh which bus routes?? None in CH or dntn as of this morning..
Gotta give the garbage truck drivers credit yesterday for making all their routes despite roads not being cleared. Even the bus drivers did ok despite the buses hitting ruts..
So how is it possible to plow downtown during a work day?
ohhh plowing is a 9 to 5 job now??
tern: “Into day 3 and still no snow plow on my rural road east of town.”
There hasn’t been a snow plow on most of the residential streets in the City. I wouldn’t expect your rural road to be attended to anytime soon.
I think it should be mandatory that all these chip haulers chain up when it’s snowing. When they are empty and coming back from the mill, they are hazardous and constantly getting stuck.
I think it would be a good idea for Excel, Lomak and any other chip haul contractors running PG Pulpmill road to invest in a grader and an operator. May cost them money to do it but I have to wonder how many parts are getting beaten up on those trucks.
How about this, everyone with a snowblower or a plow on your truck help out your neighbours. I really miss my neighbour who move to Ont., he had a snow blower and he would use it on the road in front of our houses as we are on a curve and the snow gets pushed up in front of our houses. I have been out each day with a shovel trying to keep the snow ridges down but it is a losing battle with a shovel.
I also found out yesterday that roofing shingles are great for traction when we helped some one that was stuck going into the curve.
Also let people park in your driveway instead of the road even if you don’t know them. Great way to meet people.
“Most collisions don’t need to be reported to the police” Actually I was told that any accident that has more that $250.00 damage has to be called in to the police, and with cars nowadays that is basically a scratch on your door. So I would say most are supposed to be called in.
Omg the police have much better things to do than worry about a silly accident where no one’s hurt. Exchange info…AFTER you have moved off the road!…with each other a nice day and move on.
Eagleone
Your story about chains is interesting but far from reality. We use chains only in emergency they are heavy difficult to put on and hard on the tires. In the case of a chip truck on pulp mill road he may have been avoiding a car. Otherwise just a dumbass in the ditch he will probably do it again. I run my chains as fast as 80 k offroad but they wonât help you steer.
Accidents with less than $5000.00 damage don’t require police to attend unless you think someone has been drinking.
And for heaven’s sake take pictures! Its your best evidence in case of a claim.
Stillsmoking I will try to explain it to you better. Ever notice the amount of traffic downtown on a workday? Notice all the parked cars on the streets. How do you suppose to work around that?
seamut…. you just looking for someone to fight with today eh..ahahahah When has ever the city cleared the main streets downtn during working hours??/ They usually do it after hours or at night.. Mannnn some people..
I got air off a snow “bump” in College Heights yesterday and I was going slow. Man is it bumpy out there :)
” …while Sunday appears to be the first day that will give us a break with the weather expected to be mild (high of plus 1) and a mix of sunshine and clouds.
Monday, itâs back to the snow blower, with a 60% chance of flurries, or RAIN, same probability for flurries on Tuesday and Wednesday.”
Welp, looks like my prediction about spring like weather and rain is good for December, now on to January and February for more of the same.
It rarely snows when it’s minus 20 or colder, warmer winters equals more heavy / wet snow fall. Our winters are definitely NOT what they use to be.
“So how is it possible to plow downtown during a work day?”
Did you ever notice the signs which say no parking after 1am?
Tow the cars that are parked then. After that get the plows and the snow blowing truck and as many snow hauling vehicles as is required to clear downtown.
Simple!!! Snow removal is a 24 hour operation until it is cleared.
Gotta love the idiots who blow their driveway snow onto the street. I thought it was illegal, but lots of people are doing it.
I said during a work day, sheesh.
Out here there is no parking between 1AM and 7AM on city streets if more than 7cm of snow is forecasted. This is from mid November to April.
In cases where they are clearing snow around the clock (which they certainly will do), they place temporary no parking signs advising folks not to park in those designated areas. If people do, they are fined and towed.
“Gotta love the idiots who blow their driveway snow onto the street. I thought it was illegal, but lots of people are doing it”
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LOL. Yeah, I used to love going down a street only to hit the ice speed bump that was created by the guy blowing his snow onto the road instead of his lawn . . .
I am looking for confirmation on this; but I heard the roads were so bad that one pickup truck had it’s canopy bounce off. I also heard the someone’s oil pan got ripped open.
Can anyone confirm these stories, or are they now Prince George urban legends⦠LOL.
yeahhh seen a canopy somewhere along the way today in CH. Guess the canopy was not secured properly if it was to bounce off
I saw the canopy as well. It was by the Esso on Domano. How do you not notice that flipping off?
Prince George residents should be out screaming at the city for its lack is snow removal, and all the people in charge of snow removal who were not out plowing should be fired. That is the worst I have ever seen your city’s streets. You should be ashamed PG.
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