AMA urges caution as thousands more expected on Alberta highways
Posted Dec 23, 2015 8:10 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Wherever home for the holidays is, Albertans are hitting the highway in the thousands to get there in the days leading up to Christmas.
The Alberta Motor Association says traffic volume on the QE2, Trans-Canada and other highways gets much heavier at this time of year.
Spokesperson Terry Clovechok spoke with 660 News about how to prevent a white-knuckle drive, “You’re the most important person on the highway, and just take care of yourself and the loved ones in your car,” he says.
Clovechok says on major highways traffic volume can spike from an hourly rate of about 5,000 cars to 10,000 or 15,000 vehicles at peak times. His advice is to drive at your own pace, and be aware of those drivers who may be speeding by.
“Don’t speed, don’t tailgate. If you’re changing lanes, make sure you do it safety because there’s people that are in a hurry and you just have to let them go by you and take your time,” he says.
AMA also recommends having vehicles ready for winter driving conditions, and keeping an emergency kit in the car along with warm winter clothes in case you have to get out for a roadside tune-up.
