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With conditions worsening around the southeast as temperatures are swinging back and forth this week, drivers should pay attention to the road to make sure they get where they're going safely.
Some positive temperatures and sunshine over the week have resulted in a bit of melt on Saskatchewan roads, and with the subsequent refreeze that can turn many of them dangerous.
Sgt. Steven Ross, with the Estevan RCMP, talks about some of the best practices people can follow to make sure they stay safe.
"It's very important for people to scrape all the ice and snow off their vehicle, particularly the windows to make sure they can see everything well. Also, drivers need to be cognizant of the actual driving conditions with the slippery conditions and snow on the roads, stopping distances are longer, so you have to take that into account when you're driving."
Winter driving safety also begins before you get into the car, with Ross suggesting different methods to prepare and test for the road ahead.
"I usually recommend that people kind of test their road conditions when they first get on the road, just to see how slippery it is. Beyond that, you may want to keep a kind of emergency kit in your vehicle that just has some snack foods, maybe blankets and extra clothes, candles, those sorts of things, just in case you do get stranded on the highway somewhere."
If someone gets stuck on the road, Ross reminds them to keep calm and wait for help.
"It's important for people to understand that if the highway conditions are bad enough that they're getting stranded out there, we also have to drive in the same conditions, so it's not always safe necessarily for us to go out but we always do our best to help people out when they need a hand."
"The one other thing would be if you do happen to get stranded on the highway, stay with your vehicle. It's a lot harder to find people that they've gone away from their vehicle and with the cold temperatures that we get, the best place for you to stay is with your vehicle. Keep it running as you can, keep in mind the amount of fuel you have and make sure your tailpipe is clear of ice and snow. Otherwise, carbon monoxide can build up in your vehicle."
Ross also recommends people check the various resources before they're on the road to make sure conditions are alright.
"One top tip would be if you are going on a more lengthy journey, take a look at the weather forecast where you live and also where you're going and make your travel plans accordingly. Another thing people can do is check the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline which shows some road conditions, also shows how recently certain sections of road have been plowed so you can use that to plan your trip.