WINTER DRIVING TIPS

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Adjusting to Winter Conditions

Ontario winters are challenging for motorists. Safety is a top priority.

Weather conditions can be unpredictable, placing extra demands on your vehicle and your drivingskills. Ensure you are well prepared for winter roads and always adjust your driving speed to existing conditions.

Preparing for Driving in Winter

Stay alert, slow down, and stay in control — the three key elements of safe winter driving. Drive according to highway and weather conditions. Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to avoid situations where you may have to brake suddenly on a slippery surface.

Be Prepared — Is Your Vehicle Ready?

Get your vehicle winter-ready with a maintenance check-up. Don’t wait for winter to have your battery, belts, hoses, radiator, oil, lights, brakes, tires, exhaust system, heater/defroster, wipers, and ignition system checked.

Make sure your vehicle is mechanically ready for the rigours of winter. Keep your fuel tank sufficiently full — at least half a tank is recommended.

Make sure you have sufficient windshield washer fluid in the reservoir that is rated a minimum of -40°C temperature range. Keep an extra jug in the vehicle.

Clear snow and ice from all windows, lights, mirrors, and the roof. After starting your vehicle, wait for the fog to clear from the interior of the windows so you will have good visibility all around.

Have your tires checked before winter begins. Remember to check tire air pressure frequently, as it decreases in cold weather.

The condition of your vehicle’s tires is important. Worn or damaged tires can hamper your ability to drive safely. It is best to replace tires before the tread depth is the regulatory minimum of 1.5 mm.* Studies indicate that a 3mm deep tread can stop a vehicle on wet pavement in a 25% shorter distance than a tire with 1.5mm deep tread. Drivers should check the manufacturer’s wear indicator mark on tires to see if they need replacing. All tires have tread wear indicators, which are small bars of rubber found between the tread blocks of a tire. When the tread is worn flush with the tread wear indicators, the tire has reached its wear limit and must be replaced as it no longer provides sufficient traction in the rain or snow. **

Regular or "all-season" tires, including wide and high-performance tires, may be adequate in some areas; but may not be suitable for driving in the snowbelt regions of southern Ontario and throughout the north. If you live and drive in these areas, consider using winter tires. They improve driving safety by providing better traction, braking and handling during frost, snow, slush, and particularly under icy conditions. Installing four winter tires provides greater control and stability. Never mix tires of different tread, size and construction. Also, consider adding traction control and stability control options when purchasing your next vehicle.

Winter Driving Survival Kit

It’s a good idea to keep a winter survival kit in your vehicle. Having essential supplies can provide some comfort and safety for you and your passengers should you become stranded.

Recommended items include:

•Ice scraper/snowbrush
•Shovel
•Sand or other traction aid
•Tow rope or chain
•Booster cables
•Road flares or warning lights
•Gas line antifreeze
•Flashlight and batteries
•First aid kit
•Fire extinguisher
•Small tool kit
•Extra clothing and footwear
•Blanket
•Non-perishable energy foods – e.g., chocolate or granola bars, juice, soup, bottled water
•Candle and a small tin can
•Matches

Did you know?

Not only can the candlle and small tin help with lighting, but also generate some heat while waiting for help.

Be Prepared! — Before Heading Out
Wear comfortable clothing that doesn’t restrict your movement while at the wheel. Keep warm clothing for getting out of your vehicle.

If you are travelling a long distance, plan your route ahead of time. Let someone know of your destination and expected time of arrival.

Check weather and travel conditions before heading out. Don’t take chances if the weather is bad. Allow yourself extra time for travel, or wait until conditions improve. Visit the ministry’s Traveller Information Service website at: www.ontario.ca/511

Or call the Ministry of Transportation Traveller Information Service at 511 for provincial highway information.This number is also listed in your local phone directory. Highway conditions are updated regularly.

If you experience car trouble on an Ontario provincial highway, we recommend that you stay in your vehicle to avoid personal injury.

If you are in an area with cell phone service and have a cell phone, use it only when necessary. When you need help, pull well off the road to make or receive a call.

Using hand-held cell phones and other hand-held electronic communication or entertainment devices while driving is against the law. Drivers who chat, text, type or use the touchpad of a prohibited hand-held device could be fined $155. Emergency calls to 911 are not affected.

Remember, dialing 911 on your cell phone will connect you with the emergency services contact centre in the area. Please use 1-888-310-1122 for non-emergencies.

Be prepared

To ensure you are prepared to handle winter road conditions, consider an advanced driver-training course that teaches emergency driving skills.

Winter Driving - Handling Your Vehicle
Braking
Make sure you know how to use your braking system in all weather and road conditions. Consider taking an advanced driving course that teaches emergency driving skills.

How To Regain Control Of Your Vehicle In A Skid
A skid happens when your wheels slide out of control on a slippery surface. Skids can involve the front, rear, or all four wheels. Most skids result from driving too fast for road or traffic conditions. Sudden, hard braking, going too fast on a curve, or accelerating too quickly can cause your vehicle to skid and even roll over.

Once in a skid, steer in the direction of the skid. To do this, look where you want your vehicle to go and steer toward that spot. Be careful not to over steer. If you are on ice and skidding in a straight line, step on the clutch or shift to neutral.

Your vehicle may have Threshold Brakes or Anti-lock Brakes. To find out how to regain control of your vehicle in a skid using either braking systems, visit the Driver’s Handbook Online at: www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/handbook/section2.11.6.shtml

Remember:

It takes vehicles longer to stop in winter weather conditions and driving downhill.

Stopping Distances

In winter driving conditions, it takes all vehicles longer to stop on snow-covered roads.

You should not use your cruise control on wet, snowy or icy pavement. If your vehicle skids or hydroplanes, cruise control will causes your vehicle to continue to accelerate, reducing your reaction time and the ability to control your vehicle.

Did you know?

That winter tires that are in good condition can shorten braking distances by as much as 25%.

Winter Driving — On The Road

Turn on your vehicle's full lighting system in poor visibility.

Spacing
It takes longer to stop on a slippery road. It’s important to leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle ahead. A guide to safe spacing under normal driving conditions is the two-second rule.

Two-second rule:

1.Pick a marker on the road ahead, such as a road sign or telephone pole.
2.When the rear of the vehicle ahead passes the marker, count "one thousand and one, one thousand and two".
3.When the front of your vehicle reaches the marker, stop counting. If you reach the marker before you count "one thousand and two,” you are following too closely.
In winter, and especially during poor weather conditions, double the two-second rule.

Snowy Roads

Snow on a road may be hard-packed and slippery as ice. It can also be rutted and full of hard tracks and gullies. Or it can be smooth and soft. Wet snow can make for slushy roads. Heavy slush can build up in the wheel wells of your vehicle and can affect your ability to steer. Remember, look far ahead as you drive, so you can recognize hazards and have plenty of time to respond. Adjust your driving to the road and weather conditions. Slow down and avoid sudden turns of the steering wheel, and sudden braking and accelerating, which could cause a skid. Extra caution should be exercised when driving in these road conditions.

Ice

Be careful when approaching shaded areas, bridges, and overpasses, as these sections of road freeze much sooner in cold weather and stay frozen long after the sun has risen. Watch out for frost, areas of the road that appear black and shiny, as they can cause your vehicle to suddenly lose traction. Slow down, keep your foot off the brake, and be ready to shift to neutral or step on the clutch as your vehicle crosses these areas.

Snow and Slush Spray

On snowy, wet and slushy roads, large trucks and buses can blow moisture onto your windshield, leading to a sudden loss of visibility. Always drive defensively and leave enough space to avoid snow spray.

Visibility

It is critical for drivers to see and be seen in low light conditions, and when blowing snow and white-outs impair visibility. Whenever visibility is poor, turn on the vehicle’s full lighting system.

Play it Safe!

Severe winter driving conditions may make you nervous, uncomfortable, or fearful. Stay off the road unless your trip is absolutely necessary. Proper preparation and the right skills will help you face the challenge of winter driving.

Plowing

Echelon plowing is the practice of staggered snowplows operating across all lanes of a highway in one direction. It is the safest and most efficient snow removal method for multi-lane highways, though sometimes annoying to drivers. Plowing in echelon clears all lanes at once by passing a ridge of snow from one plow to the next.

Leaving Room for Plows

Remain a safe distance back from maintenance equipment when you see blue flashing lights. To do the job right, snowplows and salt and sand trucks must travel slower than regular traffic. Sight lines and visibility near a working snowplow are significantly reduced by blowing snow. Passing is dangerous.

Stay well Back to Help Snowplows Do Their Job!

Never pass a snowplow! It is extremely dangerous to pass either between or around snowplows because of whiteout conditions and the ridge of snow being passed between plows.

At no time should a vehicle pass a snow plow on the right-hand side. This could result in severe, even fatal, collision.