Inuvik (Sep 29/03) - Common sense and common courtesy should help drivers get through another winter safely.

"Drive with due care and attention to the roads," said Inuvik RCMP Const. Ron Anderson.

Speed limits and road signs should be respected.

"You have to drive with care and according to the weather," Anderson said.

Local drivers are usually careful and courteous, said Anderson.

"It's a nicety and something Inuvik can be proud of. Driving safely is very high here."

He said accident rates are pretty low, even on the Dempster. And there have been no accidents reported in the Inuvik area since the snow hit last week.

But, accidents or not, the Dempster Highway can have it's own set of hazards.

"If you went off the road it could be hours before someone comes by," said Anderson.

"Make sure your vehicle is fuelled up and in good order, obey the speed limits and the weather."

Although the highway is regularly ploughed, snow shifts quickly, said Gurdev Jagpal, regional superintendent for the GNWT Department of Transportation. "Watch out for loose snow and slow down because there could be surprises like snow drifting," said Jagpal.

When going to your mechanic for normal servicing, ask to have a winter check done on your engine fluids, said Nelson Dicks, mechanic and manager at NorCan in Inuvik.

New vehicles need less winterization than older ones.

"A lot of vehicles in Inuvik are new compared to what people used to be driving here," said Dicks.

"Once you buy a new vehicle, it is pretty much set for 55 below."

But a new vehicle still performs best with winter wiper blades -- which are rubberized for maximum flexibility under ice -- and all season or winter grip tires.

"Tires are the most important thing," said Dicks.

"On the Dempster I prefer a grip tire."

Safety starts in the trunk

-Always be prepared for the worst when driving out of town.

-A first aid kit, blankets, collapsible shovel and a heat source like candles, are essentials you shouldn't leave home without, especially over great distances, said Inuvik RCMP Cpl. Ron Anderson.

-Before heading out, listen to the road report and tell someone where you are going and when you expect to arrive there, said Gurdev Jagpal, regional superintendent for the GNWT Department of Transportation.