Snow is not exclusive to Canada, but it is fair to say that we truly have some of the harshest winters around. With the cold weather comes ice, snow, sleet, hail and rain, all making the road a much more hazardous place. That is why it’s important to be prepared and aware of the added dangers when driving or traveling in winter. This article highlights 7 easy steps to take for a safer winter driving.
This list is plentiful but not exhaustive. There are endless tips and tricks on how to be safer on the road. These are the ones we believe to be most important and specific to the winter months. In some cases, we’ve included things that may simply have not been on the minds of most drivers.
1. Winter tires, not all-seasons
The traction of your tires determines how well a vehicle rides, turns and stops, and is crucial to safe driving, especially in less than ideal conditions. Although the province of Ontario does not require you to use all-season tires during the winter season, it is highly recommended that you get yourself a set of winter/snow tires instead. In Canada, tires that meet the specific snow traction performance requirements are marked with a pictograph of a peaked mountain and snowflake. (Seen on the left)
2. Dress Appropriately
Always have a jacket, toque, gloves and boots in your car. Although it may be nice and warm in your vehicle, it can get cold very quickly if you were to run out of gas, get into an accident, your car were to break down or if you were to get stranded. You won’t only be thankful to have warm clothes for the conditions, in some cases, it may save your life!
3. Clean off your vehicle before driving
Winter driving requires more work! Remove snow and ice from your vehicle before you take the road. Avoid leaving large chunks of snow on the roof of your vehicle as it can fly off, hit traffic and can cause serious accidents. This is a lot more common than you may think. Hard chunks of packed snow or ice can absolutely crack or break a windshield.
4. Don’t be blinded by the light!
The power of the sun can be deceiving in the winter. Be sure to have some sunglasses on hand as depending on the day, the sun sure can be blinding, especially when reflecting off the slick roads. The light can be even brighter after a fresh snowfall. Sun glare is the cause of many accidents. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sun glare is the cause of 9,000 driving accidents per year (in the US).
5. Control your skidding
If you begin to skid because of icy or slippery conditions, do not brake, do not accelerate and do not panic! Simply keep your eyes on the road and firmly steer the car where you want it to go. If you aren’t going too fast, the vehicle should regain control.
6. Clean off your car lights
Make sure your headlights are clear of any snow or slush. When visibility is affected during the winter, especially during a blizzard, it is imperative that all of the lights on your car be as clean and visible as possible. Other drivers need to see you as soon and as far away as possible. Slippery conditions make it even more important for people to know when to start braking much earlier if needed.
7. Be careful on backroads
Lastly, if you are ever taking a backroad, use your head! Be sure that you are familiar with the area and know where your final destination truly is. If driving on unfamiliar roads, be weary of conditions and keep an eye out for ice and deep snow. No matter what your GPS may tell you, it is not perfect and can lead you down the wrong path from time to time. It also does not know exactly how harsh the conditions may be in your area. Despite what the GPS may have told you, deep snow on a quiet road can leave you stuck and stranded. Trust us, we seen cases like these from time to time.
Winter driving is not something to take lightly. Both the ice and snow can be deceiving. We hope this post will help you in the future. Should you ever require some help on the road, call Oshawa Towing!
