A new web camera at Sutton Pass on Highway 4 is now live on the Province's DriveBC website, providing a real-time view of highway conditions in the area and helping motorists plan a safe journey.

This is the second webcam on Highway 4 and the 13th on Vancouver Island. Changes in elevation along Highway 4 means winter weather can vary significantly along this route. This additional camera will help travellers "know before they go." The Province is adding 30 new web cameras to its DriveBC network this year, bringing the total to 200 by year end.

The new web camera is located on Highway 4, 45 km west of Port Alberni, looking southwest:

http://prd.images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/207.html

Since 2001, the ministry has invested approximately $39 million to improve safety on Highway 4, including $6.3 million this year for safety enhancements along this important corridor. Other work in the area has included upgrading 15 bridges, resurfacing, improving the road alignment, widening shoulders, and installing roadside barriers.

Two overhead message boards, located along Kennedy Lake between Tofino and Ucluelet, also improve safety by providing up-to-the-minute road and weather conditions.

DriveBC is the Province of B.C.'s most popular website. It provides timely road condition updates, travel advisories, road closure information for provincial highways, weather information and other important links to the travelling public, to help ensure easier, safer trips.

The Province is a partner in the Shift into Winter campaign, a joint initiative to improve the safety of drivers during the winter months. This is your resource for tips on safe winter driving and how to prepare your vehicle for winter, tire and chain-up information and a winter driving survival checklist.

Shift into Winter information is available on the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure's website, at: www.th.gov.bc.ca/SeasonalDriving/winter.html

Quick Facts:

• The Province launched the DriveBC website in 2005.
• DriveBC received an average of 2.9 million visits per month in 2010.
• DriveBC recently launched its mobile application, so motorists can now "Know As You Go".

Learn More:

View current webcam images on DriveBC at: www.drivebc.ca

Get DriveBC updates on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/drivebc

Learn more about preparing yourself for winter driving on the ministry's website at: http://tranbc.ca/2011/10/20/shifting-into-low-gear-getting-ready-for-winter-driving/

Contact:

Kate Trotter
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 508-5506