WESTLOCK – For a second-straight week area roads remained treacherous with Westlock RCMP issuing a travel advisory Monday following a late-afternoon storm that caused white-out conditions.
Westlock RCMP Staff Sgt. Al Baird personally noted a number of vehicles in the ditches on highways 18 and 2 Jan. 17-18 and said they received at least a “half dozen” calls. That said, there were no local reports of major, injury collisions — early-morning rain Jan. 17 followed by a massive drop in the temperature led to snow and a blistering wind from the north that made for extremely-slick roads and white-out conditions.
“On Monday night we put an advisory on Alberta 511 for people not to travel because of the white-out conditions,” said Baird Jan. 19, the day before temperatures began creeping back to the freezing mark.
“There are a lot of reasons why people end up going off the road. The wind can take the vehicle and with the skating-rink-like conditions that doesn’t help. And then add in the white-out conditions that can confuse a driver to where they are at on the road.”
Baird said when conditions get as bad as they did Monday night, his advice is simple: don’t travel unless it’s absolutely necessary. In Edmonton between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., Jan. 17, 190 collisions were reported to police — six injury collisions, 23 hit-and-runs and 161 property-damage accidents.
“When it’s that bad it should only be essential travel. I understand people get stuck at work and they have to go home. But other than that, stay off the roads unless it’s an absolute must as there’s no sense in taking a chance,” said Baird. “With white-out conditions the tow truck isn’t going to be able to pull you out. And when you’re in the ditch you put everyone coming to help you at risk — they just can’t be seen in a white-out.”
And if you do have to travel, Baird said be prepared with at least a winter travel kit and a full tank of gas.
“If you end up in the ditch you might be out there three or four hours, so do you have blankets? Do you have an emergency kit that will allow to stay warm in the vehicle while you’re waiting for help?” he asked.
Back-to-back days of freezing rain the previous week led to one minor accident on Westlock-area highways, not including a Pembina Hills School Division bus that “gently” slid off the road just after 8 a.m., Jan. 13, near Jarvie forcing students to take a second bus to school.
