Navigating winter highways and roadways is challenging, and doubly so at night.

With the weather returning to its regular wintery conditions, it's important to touch base on the track and tack of late-night driving. 

Speaking on the matter is SGI Spokesperson, Tyler McMurchy. His warnings come in a few segments, all centring around how much worse the night can make winter travel.

"Driving at night, there's limited visibility," said McMurchy. "You might not be able to determine what the road conditions are like, particularly if the temperatures were kind of hovering around zero during the daytime."

Daytime highs and overnight lows can play havoc with road surfaces this time of year. Today, the roads will be especially slick after yesterday's thaw flooded low spots and potholes with water. That water will have frozen overnight, leaving behind slick patches all over Swift Current and the surrounding roadways.

Another big concern at night is the snow itself. While it's snowing, headlights tend to reflect off snowflakes, causing white-out conditions no matter where you turn. In the event of low visibility, day or night, it's important to slow down to allow for a greater time frame to react to anything that emerges from the snow, fog, or darkness. 

Of course, a classic hazard is black ice build-up on the road. While semi-visible during the day, at night it can be practically impossible to spot unless you know how.

"Spotting it is difficult," said McMurchy. "One of the things you'll definitely want to do when you're driving is just getting a feel for the road. Using gentle acceleration, gentle braking and, if you are driving anywhere where there's traffic, making sure that you're extending that following distance behind until you get a sense of how your vehicle is responding to the road."

Another way to tell if black ice is beneath the wheels is if you can spot tail light reflections clearly on the road. This is especially useful at night, as they are even more noticeable.

If conditions are bad enough, and it feels unsafe, folks should pull over safely on the side of the road. Making sure to pack blankets, snacks, and water before setting out on any trip that might require a prolonged stop is important. 

Never leave the vehicle during the winter to seek help. Wandering away in storms or other low-visibility conditions can lead to getting lost. As well, there is more heat to be found inside a vehicle than outside during the winter. Wandering away can lead to frostbite, freezing, and worse outcomes. 

Making sure to check the Highway Hotline before setting out can help to avoid all these issues. Being aware of road conditions, and if alternative routes will be required can save anyone from being stranded. 

 

"You will want to definitely pay attention to your radio and listen to the forecast to see what kind of conditions you're going to be dealing with," advised McMurchy. "Determine whether or not you want to head out on the roads, and you know, if you hear the words 'travel not recommended', you should probably take that pretty seriously."