Given a recent string of road accidents in the Whitehorse area, motorists are reminded to adjust their driving habits to winter road conditions to ensure the safety of themselves and other drivers.

A list of winter driving tips obtained from the RCMP includes warnings to stay alert, slow down, keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, and stay in control.

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Glenn Ramsay advised drivers in an interview Thursday afternoon to use good winter snow tires on all four wheels.

'People don't always adjust their driving for winter,' said Ramsay.

It takes time each year for motorists to adapt to the different driving conditions, he added.

After the first snowfall each year, every city in Canada experiences a spike in accidents, said Ramsay.

Motorists might also consider contacting the territorial Department of Highways and Public Works to check road conditions before heading out.

As an added precaution, motorists should consider assembling a winter survival kit.

That potential lifesaver should include a shovel, sand or other traction aid such as tire chains or cables, tow rope or chain, booster cables, first aid kit, flashlight, extra clothing, matches, and blankets or sleeping bags.

Ramsay said impaired driving remains the leading cause of criminal death in Canada, a particularly tragic statistic given that impaired driving fatalities are entirely preventable.

Ramsay said the RCMP focused heavily on catching impaired drivers during December, resulting in 30 charges of impaired driving in that month alone.

It was a 'concerted effort,' said Ramsay, that was similar to Operation Impact last October in which RCMP officers conducted checkstops focusing on seatbelt enforcement.

Ramsay described it as a 'seatbelt blitz' to encourage the use of the device.

Ramsay said prevention, education and enforcement comprise the continuum of reducing harmful and criminal behaviours. He cited the efforts of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) as an important element in prevention and education.

Enforcement is a last resort, he added.

Despite the recent frequency of road accidents, Ramsay said, the rate is 'relatively the same' as any other year.