Winter driving in Canada
Professional Transport Driver ready for Winter driving can be challenging and requires extra caution to ensure safety on the road. Here are some important tips to help you stay safe during winter driving:
Speed and slippery roads: In winter, traction is reduced affecting your ability to get out of snow, make a turn or stop. As a general rule, stopping distance is doubled on wet pavement, tripled on packed snow, and up to 10 times longer on an icy road. Ice on roads at -1C is twice as slippery as ice at -18C.
Slowing down will maintain traction and decrease your total stopping distance. Posted speed limits are the maximum recommended speed for ideal conditions only.
Windshield Wipers & Fluid: Replace worn wiper blades and ensure your windshield washer fluid is winter-ready (with anti-freeze)
Leave earlier to Avoid the temptation to drive too fast for conditions by giving yourself extra travel time.
Drive smoothly up on road condition and ease up on the accelerator to avoid slipping in the wrong direction, or spinning your tires and getting stuck. Learn more about getting unstuck in this 60 Second Video. Brake gently to prevent loss of traction. When turning, steer the wheel just enough to follow the path you intend. Don’t brake and turn the wheel simultaneously – this can cause you to lose traction.
Cruise control isn’t intended for winter driving. If your vehicle loses traction, cruise control will cause the wheels to rapidly spin and accelerate at the worst possible time.
Stay Calm: If your car starts to skid, do not panic. Steer gently in the direction you want to go and ease off the accelerator.
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS): If your vehicle has ABS, brake firmly and allow the system to control braking. For vehicles without ABS, pump the brakes gently