Alberta RCMP are encouraging drivers to adopt safe habits behind the wheel as winter driving conditions approach, saying responsible choices can help reduce collisions, injuries and fatalities on provincial roads.
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The reminder follows enhanced traffic enforcement Alberta RCMP conducted over the Thanksgiving long weekend as part of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police’s Operation Impact 2026 campaign, themed “Safety is in YOUR hands.”
What RCMP say drivers should avoid
Alberta RCMP identified four behaviours most closely linked to serious collisions: impaired driving, fatigued driving, distracted driving and aggressive driving.
Mounties say texting, calling or handling a phone while driving significantly raises the risk of a crash, and recommend drivers preset navigation, music and hands-free devices before leaving the driveway rather than adjusting them while the vehicle is moving.
“We’re seeing a concerning trend in fatal collisions on Alberta roads,” said Cpl. Mike Warman of Alberta RCMP Traffic Services.
“All road users have a part to play in road safety. By making responsible choices behind the wheel and looking out for one another, we can help prevent tragedies and keep our roads safe,” Warman said.
A winter checklist for Border City commuters
For Lloydminster-area drivers who regularly cross between Alberta and Saskatchewan, RCMP guidance lines up with a few practical, cold-weather basics as conditions change:
- Check winter tire condition and tread before the first snowfall, since both provinces see rapid temperature swings in late fall.
- Keep an emergency kit in the vehicle — blanket, flashlight, booster cables, ice scraper and extra warm clothing.
- Slow down for changing surface conditions, particularly on rural grid roads and highway approaches where ice can form before pavement visibly changes colour.
- Leave extra following distance and allow more time for trips, especially on highways linking Lloydminster to Vermilion, the Battlefords and other regional communities.
- Watch for reduced visibility from blowing snow or fog, which can appear suddenly on open stretches of highway on either side of the border.
The advisory echoes seasonal warnings issued in past years, including Saskatchewan RCMP’s advisory on poor winter road conditions and a similar notice from Kitscoty RCMP after a stretch of hazardous driving locally.
Enforcement continues on both sides of the border
Alberta RCMP say enforcement around impaired, distracted and aggressive driving continues beyond holiday weekends, noting past blitzes have resulted in hundreds of tickets issued across the province in short periods.
Saskatchewan has also moved to toughen penalties, with the province introducing new impaired driving penalties amid a reported rise in alcohol- and drug-related collisions.
Drivers who witness dangerous or impaired driving are asked to call 911 immediately, according to Alberta RCMP.
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