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Whistler RCMP urges drivers to slow down for winter conditions

Seven highway incidents to date in Whistler area
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CAUGHT OUT IN THE COLD Traffic came to a standstill thanks to a winter storm along the Sea to Sky corridor Sunday. Twitter photo by Sarah Morden

Whistler RCMP Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair is urging drivers to slow down and drive to the winter conditions as Whistler embraces the first major snow storm of the season.

"The highway appears to be slightly better than the subdivisions," said LeClair. "However, the roads are quite slippery and people are encouraged to slow down, ensure that you have proper tires."

LeClair calls the number of collisions fairly "typical" given the conditions.

Around 1 p.m. on Monday police were responding to two more car accidents off Highway 99, one report north at Green Lake of a car in a snowbank and the other south at Brandywine in the ditch, amid another winter storm warning.

That brings the total of storm-related police calls to seven over the last 24 hours or so.

"It's due to people driving too fast for the conditions," said LeClair of the calls.

In one incident on Sunday Jan. 4 just after 5 p.m., a southbound car was turning left from Highway 99 onto Village Gate Boulevard when the light turned yellow. A northbound car struck the vehicle on the rear passenger side, leaving it undriveable. The driver of the northbound car did not stop. The car is described as a blue four-door vehicle, like a domestic model.

Environment Canada issued a winter storm warning before noon Monday, stating that significant amounts of snow are expected over the evening.

"Snow will re-intensify this afternoon over the Whistler region and eventually transition to rain late this evening as temperatures rise," states the Environment Canada website. "A risk of freezing rain exists during the transition period."

Between 20 and 30 cms of snow has fallen since Sunday night and an additional five to 10 cms is expected by Monday evening.

Environment Canada sates: "Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow."

The Sea to Sky Highway almost came to a standstill Sunday as many drivers were unprepared for the heavy snow on the road.