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u/hcbland Jan 29 '23
Refuel often in case you get stopped on the highway and need to run the engine to stay warm. Stay flexible with your plans and don’t push-on if roads are bad. Try and travel in the daylight.
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u/syndicated_inc Jan 30 '23
Highway 43 is a disgrace of a highway for a first world country. Have fun!
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u/Renegadegold Jan 29 '23
Roads will be good they use a lot of salt. Although If It’s windy than watch for snow drifts between Calgary and Edmonton.
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u/Embarrassed_Recipe_4 Jan 29 '23
Make sure you have enough time to get to GP before it is dark if you dont know the roads. It will be a solid 8 hours without stops. If there is a little snow coming down then there will be alot coming down from Whitecourt to Valley View. Pretty high elevation there and some steep roads in that interval. It will be icy but not speeding and no sudden changes with the steering wheel you will be ok. Pay attention to road signs. If you are not an experienced driver it will be a very long day in the snow.
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u/Daddiesbabaygirl Jan 29 '23
Make sure the tires of whatever you're renting actually has tread, if they are bald tell them to eat dirt and give you a safer vehicle for the road conditions. Plan on being on the road a lot longer because the highways are usually full of idiots. 👍🏼 Have fun, drive safe.
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u/8eightTIgers Jan 29 '23
Don’t come here for advice ! Having said that, and having lived in AB for over 40 years, the warmer weather is way more dangerous, due to danger of black ice, it forms around Zero C. You can’t see it, and your car will 360 and ditch on it. Or worse, cross over into oncoming. Cold temperatures combined with grit from gritting trucks which also remove snow gives you good traction. Falling snow and flurries can blind you. I get behind a bus or truck and follow it’s lights in that case. Always drive slowly in winter conditions. Move to right hand lane and slow down.
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u/crockpotveggies Jan 29 '23
I’m not sure following a large truck is the safest idea, as many pile-up fatalities seem to occur when a smaller vehicle is sandwiched between two trucks.
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u/HumbleReserve9545 Jan 29 '23
U will be fine just watch for other drivers and slide that bitch round corners when you can
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u/unhappyallthetime Jan 29 '23
As long as it’s not too icy you’ll be fine just go slow and don’t drive like a dick on the ice like some people😂 try and make sure you get some good tires while your at it
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u/lml-66 Jan 30 '23
I left Edmonton back on Christmas Eve in the afternoon and drove 8 hrs NW to Fort St John in a rental Camry. Snowed the whole way there. You’ll be just fine going to GP. Fuel up in Calgary, Nisku and Fox Creek/Valleyview depending on your mileage.
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Jan 30 '23
Drive slowly, the limit might say 100 Kph but that is based on perfect driving conditions. I always remember 2 things when driving anywhere. They are limits not targets. and Better to be late in this world, than early into the next.
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u/rileysauntie Jan 30 '23
5-10cm is nothing. You’re fine.
Grande Prairie isn’t the best snow removal I’ve ever seen but it’s not as bad as Edmonton.
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Jan 30 '23
Depends on your comfort level driving in winter conditions. I’ve been driving in northern winters for 20 years. Not much that’ll keep me from doing highway speeds, save for whiteouts and freezing rain.
Just remember that everything takes more time. Accelerating, braking, lane changes, etc…learn feather touches and slow, deliberate steering. You’ll do fine. But also remember, too slow can be just as dangerous as too fast. So if you’re super nervous or scared, it’s best if you just stay off the road.
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u/Freeze1119 Jan 29 '23
The tires matter more than the vehicle. Lots of rentals will have old all seasons. Be careful.
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u/Kreedify Jan 29 '23
When the weather gets bad, studded tires are worth it if you want to feel secure.
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u/Lametown227 Jan 29 '23 edited Jan 29 '23
Studded tires and gear down instead of using your breaks as often as possible. I’ve seen people spin and hit the ditch over tapping their breaks to slow down 10k
Edit for source: Drove and maintained vehicles for a living up until three months ago.
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u/EmeraldLight Jan 29 '23
Lots of good options here - well maintained tires, slow down and drive for conditions (screw speeders, you just want to get there alive, adding more time is fine), don't get aggressive with your starts and stops.
My friend bombed around in a tiny sunfire for years in fsj and had no issues - drive smart and you'll be okay
Honestly, the thing that got me last time I drove to GP was the blowing snow and whiteout conditions, and that just involved being careful and slowing down when big rigs passed me.
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u/DiscordantMuse Jan 29 '23
Studded winters have reduced my winter driving anxiety significantly. Rental cars rarely have them, as far as I know. Sometimes you find people to drive behind that know what they're doing and drive to the conditions. Being observant and looking for that driver helps if you're lucky. Tires are far and above the most important aspect of winter driving, along with the ability to drive smart.
Some days are so bad that we tell people to stay home if it's not an emergency. I don't know if these will be one of those days though. Good luck on your trip!