Westworld Alberta

Highway and traffi c cameras Take to heart the saying a picture is worth a thousand words when deciding to hit the highway this winter. Alberta Transportation operates 83 cameras year-round across the province, covering the province's primary highways. The cameras are installed as far east as Demmit and as far west as Lloydminster; north to Indian Cabins and south to Coutts. The images, accessible on AMA's website (ama.ab.ca/road-reports), refresh every 20 minutes. Also useful are the 40-plus live- stream traffi c cameras operated by the City of Edmonton and the 60 cameras operated by the City of Calgary. Paper maps GPS manufacturers would have you believe that it's impossible to lose your way these days, as long as you have one of their products in your vehicle. But tell that to the B.C. couple who got lost in the Nevada mountains last winter. Rescuers found Rita Chretien frostbitten and starved, after she'd been stranded for seven weeks. Her husband Al, who ventured out with their GPS device to try and fi nd a state highway, hasn't been seen since. The incident raises questions about the reliability of GPS, especially in remote areas. "While GPS is a great tool for navigating, drivers shouldn't rely on the technology solely," says Don Szarko, AMA director of advocacy and community services. "During the winter, motorists should pack a paper map for added assurance when driving unfamiliar routes." Pack a map for the route that you'll be travelling, especially if it's a new one. Your vehicle's emergency kit should also include a paper map of your most commonly travelled areas. (See p. 12 for a list of what to include in a winter emergency kit.) TV and radio weather reports With the proliferation of smart phones that can report the temperature in locales around the world at the click of a button, it's tempting to rely on this convenient technology. But smart phones have their limits. Most can only provide an overview of conditions, as opposed to detailed information, such as the direction precipitation is heading and how fast. The best source for up-to- the-minute weather reports is your local TV or radio station, where staff meteorologists use a variety of tools to obtain weather information and forecasts. Also useful is Environment Canada's website (weatheroffi ce.gc.ca), which includes radar maps that monitor the location and intensity of precipitation across the country. (For one-stop surfi ng, you can access Environment Canada through the AMA website at ama.ab.ca.) WESTWORLD >> NOVEMBER 2011 43

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