The Elk Valley RCMP is warning the public of dangerous road conditions after a number of recent collisions.
Will Thien of the Elk Valley RCMP said recent weather conditions are the main culprit behind the dangerous roads.
“The problem on the highway is because of the weather we are having – the snow and cold and then it heats up again,” he said in an interview with The Free Press. “There is a layer that is not evaporating or there is a layer that keeps building up so we do have a lot of people who lose control, especially along Highway 43.”
A 41-year old man from Blairmore, Alta., died in a collision north of Sparwood on Monday evening and there have been other incidents in the area this week.
“We are reminding people that because of fluctuations of the temperatures, that layer of black is being built up. We are asking everybody to use extra caution it terms of speeding up or stepping on the gas,” said Thien. “Even though you are not driving fast, if you’re not good at handling slippery situations and you lock it, and that’s it. You lose control totally.”
Thien also said he expects to see more traffic on the highways because of the upcoming the holiday season.