Travelling through one of British Columbia's mountain passes can be challenging, particularly during winter. Changing weather, snow and ice, steep grades and unpredictable road conditions all require preparation. There is another possibility drivers should consider before setting out: what will you do if a major incident closes the highway and you are stuck in traffic for several hours?
A serious collision, hazardous material spill, avalanche, landslide, washout or wildfire can bring highway traffic to a standstill. In some cases, the closure may last many hours or even overnight. Emergency services and highway maintenance crews must first make the scene safe before traffic can resume.
You may have no access to food, water, fuel, charging facilities or shelter other than your own vehicle. Preparing for this possibility is an important part of planning a long-distance journey.
Plan Your Journey Before Leaving
Start by checking the route you intend to travel. DriveBC provides highway conditions, traffic incidents, closures, webcams and travel advisories. Check it shortly before departure and continue monitoring conditions when practical during your trip.
Weather conditions can change considerably between communities and elevations. A journey that begins in sunshine may encounter heavy snowfall, freezing rain, blowing snow or icy pavement at higher elevations. Check forecasts for the entire route, paying particular attention to mountain passes and areas prone to avalanches.
Before leaving:
- Allow extra time rather than planning to arrive according to an optimistic travel estimate.
- Identify fuel stops, charging stations and communities along the route where you could wait safely if necessary.
- Consider alternative routes, but don't assume they will remain open or be suitable for winter travel.
- Tell someone your intended route and expected arrival time. Let them know if your plans change, and arrange for them to take action if you fail to arrive or check in as expected.
- Make sure your cellular phone is charged, but don't rely on it for communication. Cellular coverage is absent or unreliable in some mountain and remote areas of British Columbia. Consider how you would summon assistance if you had no service.
- For travel through areas with little or no cellular coverage, consider carrying a satellite communicator or satellite phone. Learn how the device works before departure and understand its limitations.
- Consider postponing your trip if severe weather or hazardous conditions are forecast.
Remember that avalanche control work can result in planned highway closures, while natural avalanches can close roads without warning. Check the conditions and advisories for your intended route before departure.
Prepare Your Vehicle
A vehicle that is properly maintained and equipped is less likely to leave you stranded and better able to protect you if an unexpected stop becomes lengthy.
Before a long trip, check:
- Tire condition, inflation pressure and suitability for the route.
- Brake condition and operation.
- Battery condition and charging system on an internal combustion engine vehicle.
- Engine coolant and other fluid levels where applicable.
- Windshield washer fluid rated for the temperatures you may encounter.
- Wiper condition, exterior lighting and windshield defrosting.
- Spare tire, jack and wheel-changing equipment, or an appropriate tire repair kit.
If your journey includes highways with winter tire or chain requirements, make sure your vehicle meets them. On most designated routes in British Columbia, winter tire or chain requirements apply from October 1 through April 30. On select highways not located through mountain passes or high snowfall areas, the requirements end March 31.
My personal rule for an internal combustion engine vehicle is to never let the fuel tank fall below half full. This provides a useful reserve if an unexpected delay or detour occurs. There is no reason to wait until the tank is nearly empty before looking for fuel.
Electric vehicle drivers need to plan their charging stops with a similar concern for maintaining an adequate reserve. We'll consider some additional EV-specific precautions below.
Pack for an Extended Highway Closure
An emergency kit intended to deal with a routine breakdown may not be adequate when you are stopped on a highway for six, eight or twelve hours. Imagine having to remain in your vehicle overnight in freezing temperatures. What would you and your passengers need?
Warmth and clothing:
- Warm coats, hats, gloves and winter footwear for every occupant.
- Extra socks and dry clothing.
- Blankets or sleeping bags.
- Hand and foot warmers.
Food and water:
- Drinking water in containers suitable for freezing conditions.
- Ready-to-eat, non-perishable food that does not require cooking or refrigeration.
- Snacks appropriate for children and anyone with special dietary needs.
Emergency and vehicle supplies:
- First aid kit and necessary prescription medications.
- Flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries.
- Reflective vest and warning triangles.
- Small shovel and traction material such as sand or non-clumping kitty litter.
- Portable power bank and phone charging cable.
- Windshield scraper and snow brush.
- Basic tools and a tow rope.
Consider the needs of infants, older passengers and pets as well. Diapers, personal hygiene products, pet food and necessary medical equipment may be just as important as the usual vehicle emergency supplies.
Keep essential items where they can be reached from inside the passenger compartment. There may be no safe or practical opportunity to open the trunk while traffic is stopped on a busy highway.
What to Do When Traffic Stops
When you encounter a traffic queue that is not moving, be patient and resist the temptation to leave your vehicle to find out what has happened. Other drivers doing the same thing can create additional hazards for emergency responders and approaching traffic.
Leave enough space between your vehicle and the one ahead to allow room for emergency vehicles and to make it easier to move if directed. Follow instructions from police, highway maintenance personnel and other emergency responders.
Do not attempt to turn around, reverse along the highway or use an emergency access point unless directed to do so. An apparent shortcut may put you in the path of emergency vehicles or expose you to additional hazards.
Monitor official information through DriveBC and other available announcements. If cellular service is available, conserve your phone battery by limiting unnecessary use. Remember that cellular service may be unreliable or nonexistent in some mountain areas.
If you are involved in an emergency or someone requires immediate police, fire or ambulance assistance, call 911 if you have service. A traffic delay by itself is not an emergency requiring a 911 call.
If your vehicle is in a safe location, remaining inside may provide the best protection from traffic and weather. However, instructions will depend on the incident. Follow directions from emergency responders, who may direct you to remain in your vehicle or evacuate to a safer location. If you must run an internal combustion engine to provide heat, ensure the exhaust outlet is clear of snow and that exhaust cannot enter the passenger compartment. Never run the engine in an enclosed space.
If your vehicle is in a location where it could be struck by other traffic or is otherwise unsafe, your immediate safety takes priority. Follow emergency personnel's directions about moving to a safer location.
Special Considerations for Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicle drivers need to consider a few additional things when planning a long-distance trip, particularly in cold weather.
Low temperatures reduce battery efficiency and available driving range. Heating the passenger compartment, warming the battery and using other electrical accessories also consume energy. BC Hydro advises EV drivers to anticipate a reduction in driving range of approximately 20 to 40 percent in sub-zero conditions.
Cold-weather range loss makes it particularly important not to plan a journey around arriving at a charging station with only a small amount of battery capacity remaining. Begin the journey fully charged whenever practical, and recharge before entering a long stretch without reliable charging facilities. This provides an additional reserve if an unexpected highway closure or detour occurs.
Check the locations and availability of charging stations along your route before departure. A charger shown on a route planner may be unavailable, occupied or inaccessible because of a highway closure. Do not assume that another charging station will be within reach.
If you are stopped for an extended period, cabin heating becomes another consideration. You will need to balance the energy used to keep passengers warm against the battery reserve needed to continue the journey when traffic starts moving again.
Heated seats and a heated steering wheel, if equipped, generally use less energy than heating the entire passenger compartment. Warm clothing and blankets can also help reduce the need for cabin heat. However, passenger comfort and safety must come first, particularly when children, older people or anyone vulnerable to cold is travelling.
Learn how your particular vehicle manages its climate control and battery systems while stationary. Energy consumption and available features vary between manufacturers and models. Do not assume that another EV driver's experience will be the same as yours.
BC Hydro's winter driving advice for electric vehicles provides additional information about reduced range, charging and cold-weather preparation.
When the Highway Reopens
A highway reopening does not necessarily mean that normal driving conditions have returned. Traffic may be released in stages, speed restrictions may remain in place, and another closure may occur if conditions deteriorate or additional work is required.
Follow the directions of traffic control personnel and leave plenty of space between vehicles. Do not rush to make up for lost time. Be particularly alert for emergency vehicles, highway maintenance equipment and changing road conditions.
Before continuing, reconsider your remaining fuel or battery range, the distance to your next reliable stopping point and the condition of the road ahead. If your supplies or vehicle energy reserve have become inadequate, find a safe opportunity to replenish them.
Plan for the Unexpected
Most long-distance trips through British Columbia's mountain passes are completed without serious incident. That doesn't mean you should assume yours will be.
A few minutes spent checking conditions, preparing your vehicle and packing supplies can make a significant difference if an unexpected highway closure turns a routine journey into a long wait.
Don't plan only for the distance you intend to travel. Plan for the possibility that you may not be moving for several hours, and make sure you and everyone travelling with you are prepared to look after yourselves until help arrives or the highway reopens.
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