With winter conditions predicted to continue in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, including continued snowfall, police are hoping drivers will slow down and be cautious.

"The biggest recommendation from police is getting winter-specific tires - nothing beats it," said Ridge Meadows RCMP Sgt. Dale Somerville.

"Winter tires cut all stopping distances by a third," the sergeant in charge of traffic services said.

Somerville said that driving a four-wheel drive vehicle can lead to a false sense of security.

"While your vehicle may be very capable of accelerating in snow, it has to stop like any other vehicle regardless of the snow and ice. And that is why winter-specific tires make it better," Somerville explained.

"One of the biggest issues in icy conditions is rear-end crashes, that is why you must pay 100 per cent attention to your driving at all times," noted Somerville.

According to an ICBC survey conducted in December, seven out of 10 drivers admit to feeling less safe or more frustrated on the roads when winter conditions hit.

Nearly all the drivers surveyed said they follow the two key rules of driving in winter conditions - increasing their following distance and driving slower.

ICBC recommends that slowing down gives you more time to see the road ahead and to anticipate potential hazards.

As the snow begins to melt during warmer daytime hours, black ice becomes a potential hazard. It's virtually impossible to see ahead of time, and that's why it's so important to slow down and keep your distance - so you can see how the vehicles around you are moving on the road.

While it can be a natural reaction to slam on the brakes, the best thing can do if you do encounter black ice is to try to slow your vehicle down to regain traction by easing off the accelerator and shifting into a lower gear if possible.

On a positive note, the survey showed that drivers are doing what they can to prepare their vehicles for the challenging road conditions.

Eight in 10 drivers topped up their water fluid to help to avoid freezing, while seven in 10 drivers checked their tire pressure - tires deflate more quickly in cold weather. A majority of the drivers said they install winter tires on their vehicle or keep an emergency kit in the car.

The majority of B.C. drivers surveyed choose to wait until the morning before planning their commute.

Four out of 10 drivers still choose to drive to work as they normally would.

Drivebc.ca is a resource for checking real-time road conditions across the province and up-to-the-minute alerts on any possible road closures.

smclaren@mrtimes.com