KINGS COUNTY - Kings District RCMP responded to 14 collisions in a single day as heavy snowfall spread throughout the county Jan. 17.
Const. Kelli Gaudet confirmed that there were nine one-vehicle accidents, four two-vehicle collisions and one crash involving three vehicles. The incidents occurred between 7:16 a.m. and 5:25 p.m.
There were five accidents on Highway 101, starting with a single-vehicle collision near the exit for Avonport at 11:22 a.m. At 3:32 p.m., RCMP were called to a three-vehicle crash near the exit for Berwick that resulted in non-life threatening injuries and extensive damages to two vehicles.
Between 4:39 p.m. and 5:11 p.m., there were three more collisions on Highway 101: a two-vehicle crash near exit 13 (North Alton), a single-vehicle accident by the Greenwich exit at 4:50 p.m., and a second single-vehicle incident near Avonport.
There were single-vehicle collisions along Highway 1 in Berwick at 7:16 a.m. and 3:05 p.m., with the second incident resulting in minor injuries.
Three of the collisions took place along Central Avenue in Greenwood, including a collision involving a car and a deer at 10:50 a.m. The remaining car accidents took place in New Minas, Greenwich, Wolfville and along Highway 358.
Gaudet recommends that motorists check weather forecasts throughout the day before heading out on the roads in the winter.
“Choose the route you will take ahead of time and check the weather forecast to make sure you know what to expect,” she said.
Gaudet urges all motorists to adhere to the following winter safety tips:
- Keep an emergency kit in every vehicle. Pack the kit with: gloves, a hat, warm clothes, a shovel, booster cables, windshield washer fluid, a first aid kit, a snowbrush, water bottles and non perishable energy food.
- Clear snow and ice from your vehicle. Ensure all windows, lights, mirrors and the roof is cleared of snow and ice, and wait for foggy windows to clear.
- Consider getting winter tires if you don’t already have some.
- Slow down, and plan for more travel time.
- Keep a safe distance behind other vehicles on the road.
- Ensure there is a good supply of gas in your vehicle.
- Bring a charged cellular phone in case of an emergency.
- Turn the lights on to be more visible to other motorists.
- Never use cruise control if conditions are snowy, icy or wet because if your vehicle hydroplanes, it will try to accelerate and you may lose control of it.
- Pay attention. Driving is difficult on snow covered and icy roads. Anticipate what your next move is going to be, and give yourself lots of room and time for turning and stopping.
