VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It appears drivers in BC feel confident in their winter driving abilities, despite the majority admitting to being the worst winter drivers in the nation, according to a new BCAA survey.

Almost one-in-three say there’s no need for them to prepare for winter driving because they consider themselves to be good drivers. While just over 30 per cent of respondents say they won’t prepare until there is actually snow on the ground. The other one-third doesn’t believe BC is in store for a bad winter.

“What tends to happen is, a lot of these drivers will get on the road not very well prepared for it, their vehicles aren’t prepared, they don’t have winter safety kits inside of their vehicles, and they’re just completely nervous about driving,” explains Stu Miller, BCAA senior manager of automotive operations. “Winter weather can create unpredictable road conditions anywhere and at any time, which can turn out to be challenging for even the most experienced driver.”

The survey, in some ways, shows contradicting self-assessments by drivers. Nearly two-thirds claim they are experienced but nervous winter drivers and almost half say they’re experienced drivers but bad at driving in snowy or icy conditions.

What’s concerning in these statistics is over 60 per cent of people say they will not stay off the roads in bad conditions. “Sleet, icy roads, heavy rainfall, cold temperatures and more hours of darkness — this is a season of weather hazards at every turn and with half of drivers not even checking the weather before heading out, it’s concerning,” says Miller.

The silver lining is nearly 70 per cent think all BC drivers should use winter tires but only 29 per cent have a winter roadside emergency kit in their car.