Driving through the Canadian Rockies allows you to experience beautiful scenery, peace and quiet, wildlife and twisting mountain roads making it one of the most unique journeys you’ll ever undertake. As scenic and exciting as driving through the Canadian Rockies might seem, it’s definitely not something to be taken lightly. With sparse towns spread out over long distances, getting help maybe a bit harder than in more urbanized areas. Here are a few tips to help you have a safe and stress-free drive through the Canadian Rockies.
Know Your Car
Seeing as you’ll be spending a significant amount of time in it, it’s worth getting to know the vehicle you’ll be driving. Whether it’s your own or a rental, you need to make sure you know the basics like indicator position, how to open the hood/gas cover, how to adjust the seats, etc. Double check and make sure consumable fluids like oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid and coolant are topped up. Make sure other consumables like brake pads/shoes, tires, windshield wipers, etc. are up to par and will last the journey. Double check your gas gauge. Towns in the Rockies are few and far between. It’s advisable never to let your gas level drop below half; this will help you get through any unexpected situations. Speaking of unexpected situations, be sure to pack a few extras such as warm clothing, a shovel and traction aids (like gravel or planks) into your car emergency kit, you never know when they might come in handy!
Watch Your Speed!
Obey the posted speed limits, after all these were put in place for the safety of all road users. Bear in mind that roadworks are common throughout the year so be sure to keep an eye out for them as speeding fines can double around construction. Remember to watch out for cyclists and avoid driving on the road shoulder, especially in larger vehicles as cyclists can sometimes be hard to spot. Because of the varying road conditions, it is not advisable to use cruise control either but in general, as long as you stick to the law and use common sense you’ll be fine!
Keep an eye out for wildlife
Roadside fencing isn’t enough to keep all the wildlife off the roads and animals like elk and caribou are a common sight. Were there’s one animal, expect others around and pay special attention at dusk and dawn when animals are most active. If you see wildlife by the road, proceed with caution and use your hazard lights to warn other motorists. If you find yourself in a situation where a collision with wildlife is inevitable, it’s better to hit the gas rather than the brakes. As grim as it may seem, remembering this simple tip could result in the animal going over your car, rather than onto and through your windscreen, potentially harming you and any passengers.
Driving through the Canadian Rockies can be a challenging, yet rewarding experience. Should the worst come to worst and your car ends up damaged, All Makes Collision Centre is here to help ease you through the post-incident repair process. Contact us today to find out how we can help after an accident.