Warning about winter highway driving in BC
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,751
Warning about winter highway driving in BC
Just a heads up to those who plan to drive in B.C. in winter. Don't drive your own car unless it is a beater or a rental car with good insurance coverage!
My wife and I have noticed that in the past few years, the coarseness of "sand" used on interior highways has increased remarkably: You can see individual pieces (a.k.a. gravel) on the road surface while driving at 110 km/h (~70 mph).
Result is that you're sprayed with gravel while passing or being passed. Rock chips on your paint job and windshields chips are very common.
I've heard from an auto glass shop that the province's Ministry of Transport and the provincial auto insurer ICBC decided that it was more cost effective to use coarse gravel which stays on the roadway longer even though it causes higher insurance claims for windshields and other comprehensive claims, which is offset by lower collision claims and lower gravelling costs. At about the same time, the provincial government ordered ICBC to discontinue free windshield replacement for the safest drivers (who paid an extra premium for this coverage). The glass shop manager says his shop can get over a dozen windshield claims a day during ski season.
We thought it was only us but someone we knew who foolishly drove his new Subaru from Vancouver to the Rockies and back incurred some $4k in damage from gravel.
FWIW, Vancouver-Whistler is relatively safe.
My wife and I have noticed that in the past few years, the coarseness of "sand" used on interior highways has increased remarkably: You can see individual pieces (a.k.a. gravel) on the road surface while driving at 110 km/h (~70 mph).
Result is that you're sprayed with gravel while passing or being passed. Rock chips on your paint job and windshields chips are very common.
I've heard from an auto glass shop that the province's Ministry of Transport and the provincial auto insurer ICBC decided that it was more cost effective to use coarse gravel which stays on the roadway longer even though it causes higher insurance claims for windshields and other comprehensive claims, which is offset by lower collision claims and lower gravelling costs. At about the same time, the provincial government ordered ICBC to discontinue free windshield replacement for the safest drivers (who paid an extra premium for this coverage). The glass shop manager says his shop can get over a dozen windshield claims a day during ski season.
We thought it was only us but someone we knew who foolishly drove his new Subaru from Vancouver to the Rockies and back incurred some $4k in damage from gravel.
FWIW, Vancouver-Whistler is relatively safe.
#2
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,740
Just a heads up to those who plan to drive in B.C. in winter. Don't drive your own car unless it is a beater or a rental car with good insurance coverage!
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Result is that you're sprayed with gravel while passing or being passed. Rock chips on your paint job and windshields chips are very common.
* * *
Result is that you're sprayed with gravel while passing or being passed. Rock chips on your paint job and windshields chips are very common.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,751
Mudflaps should be made mandatory. Kudos to the many pickup truck owners who outfit their rigs with these. SUVs seem to be the worse offenders for spraying gravel.
#4
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,740
If Calgary (I can't speak as to rest of Alberta) uses sand, it must be the particularly rough, grainy, hard, and sharp-edged kind.
#5
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: YYC
Programs: BA bronze, Aeroplan peon
Posts: 4,734
Historically, Edmonton has used sand, Calgary uses pea gravel. In Calgary I figure if a windshield lasts 2 years I'm doing well. The 3M clear protective film on the front of the car is a good investment too.
#6
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sun Peaks, Taupo.
Programs: NZ Elite, AC SE100K, Westjet Teal, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 6,120
I do a tremendous amount of winter driving in BC, 6,000+-km per month. Mostly back and forth on the Coquihalla and the Connector.
As the OP mentions, MoTH and their contractors are using more gravel this year. Sand works well when first applied but dissapears very quickly.
My goal is to only buy one windshield a year, current one has eight rock chips, one small crack and lots of sandblasting. Crack is down low and off to the right, none of the rock chips are in field of vision.
Many drivers are ill prepared for winter driving in BC. I have stopped at so many accidents and incidents and am blown away by the amount of poor tyres, lack of warm clothing and a little food.
If any uniniatated are reading this please pay heed to not embark on these highways in winter unless you are a confident and capable driver, your vehicle is well equipped and provisioned.
As the OP mentions, MoTH and their contractors are using more gravel this year. Sand works well when first applied but dissapears very quickly.
My goal is to only buy one windshield a year, current one has eight rock chips, one small crack and lots of sandblasting. Crack is down low and off to the right, none of the rock chips are in field of vision.
Many drivers are ill prepared for winter driving in BC. I have stopped at so many accidents and incidents and am blown away by the amount of poor tyres, lack of warm clothing and a little food.
If any uniniatated are reading this please pay heed to not embark on these highways in winter unless you are a confident and capable driver, your vehicle is well equipped and provisioned.
#7
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: YYC
Programs: BA bronze, Aeroplan peon
Posts: 4,734
#5 is a tough road on glass in the winter.
#8
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,051
With all the modern alternatives to glass, will windshields always remain a certain type of glass? Do space vehicles have glass windows? Seems like cars should be made with the cheap standard option and then alternatives for vehicles taken to challenging environments.
Another thought. Aren't there screens that can be mounted on the front of hoods to catch heavy projectiles before they can get to the windshield? I know there is the popular "bra" which protects the paint job on the front of a vehicle. Seems to me something to protect the glass would be equally valuable.
Another thought. Aren't there screens that can be mounted on the front of hoods to catch heavy projectiles before they can get to the windshield? I know there is the popular "bra" which protects the paint job on the front of a vehicle. Seems to me something to protect the glass would be equally valuable.
#9
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Join Date: Nov 1999
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Until the past 10-15 years, I don't thi8nk anyone considered windshields to be regularly-replaceed items windshield wipers and tires. I guess it is another downloaded cost.
Glass is glass for the most part though there are some new types. Glass is hard and relatively scratch/abrasion-resistant (i.e., scratch resistant) but is unfortunately brittle so prone to chipping which leads to cracks.
Space vehicles do have glass, All a.re one use (like the Russian man craft and are not particularly necessary) with the exception of the now-defuinct space shuttle, probably replaced every mission.
Those are bug deflectors and I doubt they'll affect the direction and path of objects such as gravel.
No]thing out there. If you invent it, it's the proverbial; better- mousetrap.
Long and short of it, avoid driving B.C. highways from winter well into late spring unless you're driving a beater. My wife and I certainly wouldn't except for estate matters. She's driven between Vancouver and Kelowna at least 4x yearly for 30 years and has noted the deterioration of winter road maintenance in the last 15 years.
Do space vehicles have glass windows? Seems like cars should be made with the cheap standard option and then alternatives for vehicles taken to challenging environments.
Another thought. Aren't there screens that can be mounted on the front of hoods to catch heavy projectiles before they can get to the windshield?
Those are bug deflectors and I doubt they'll affect the direction and path of objects such as gravel.
I know there is the popular "bra" which protects the paint job on the front of a vehicle. Seems to me something to protect the glass would be equally valuable.
Long and short of it, avoid driving B.C. highways from winter well into late spring unless you're driving a beater. My wife and I certainly wouldn't except for estate matters. She's driven between Vancouver and Kelowna at least 4x yearly for 30 years and has noted the deterioration of winter road maintenance in the last 15 years.
#11
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,798
...so unless your relatives regularly drive into the interior from Mission in the Winter they likley won't have much to add.
#14
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salish Sea
Programs: DL,AC,HH,PC
Posts: 8,974
#15
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sun Peaks, Taupo.
Programs: NZ Elite, AC SE100K, Westjet Teal, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 6,120
Total waste of money for all of the above including bugs.