RCMP, CAA caution highway travel as blizzard moves through province's south

CAA has received more than 200 calls for service since Tuesday morning to aid motorists.

Conditions began deteriorating Monday after a snowfall warning turned into a blizzard warning in parts of Saskatchewan. Temperatures dipped, snow began to fall and wind has gusted upwards of 90 kilometres per hour.

Blowing snow has made highway travel treacherous, and so the company’s roadside assistance has been very active over the last 24 hours.

“The majority have been calls to pull motorists out of ditches. We’ve also been called to help with some towing,” said Christine Niemczyk, adding the regular lock outs and boosts have also been called in.

The weather also has the RCMP warning drivers about conditions across the province.

“We recommend the public heed all warnings, travel advisories and closure notices, even if the weather is good at your departure,” RCMP said in a release.

Niemczyk agrees, recommending that the public check the Highway Hotline before they go out. If a road is closed, a tow truck driver will not be able to ignore the closure to get to a stranded motorist.

“There’s always a safety concern when our tow truck drivers are on the highways,” she said.

“We have heard from a few of (the tow truck drivers) from the Estevan area that they are checking with the RCMP and weather conditions before they head out as well. If you can delay travel please do so.”

If you absolutely have to travel, Niemczyk urges people not to leave without an emergency kit that includes a shovel, candle, some form of heat warmth, water and something to eat as well as extra layers of clothing.

If you are stranded do not leave your car, she stressed.

As of about 3 p.m. Tuesday, Niemczyk said there was a 30 to 45 minute wait for a tow truck driver in Regina and Saskatoon.

Due to road and travel conditions, CAA is not providing an estimate to out of town calls, but Niemczyk said if a tow truck is unable to get to a driver they will let them know.

If it’s an emergency they will call local RCMP.