Still alot of winter left so keep these things in mind while driving

Still alot of winter left so keep these things in mind while driving

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There’s enough winter left to keep these things in mind behind the wheel

Just because it warmed up and rained a couple of times at the end of January doesn’t mean winter is over in Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent, or anywhere else in southwestern Ontario… not by a long shot.

If you’re a bit of a procrastinator and didn’t get yourself prepared for winter driving, there’s still plenty of winter ahead of us to make the effort worthwhile, and to be aware of some of the bad driving habits we can all slip into from time to time.

There are plenty of drivers on the road whose habits are either annoying or flat out dangerous. But if you live in Canada, you know these bad habits have even more potentially serious consequences when you add a few inches of snow to the mix.

First and foremost, SLOW DOWN! Driving too fast for road conditions is the single largest factor in winter-related motor vehicle accidents. Drivers need to allow extra travel time and be careful when braking, changing lanes, making turns and taking curves. Snow, and more so ice, make these every day driving situations potentially trecherous.

Transport Canada states that the danger of skidding is greatest when drivers are taken by surprise and suggest motorists avoid forceful braking or sudden, jerking movement of the wheel.

One of the ways to avoid finding yourself in such a situation is to always maintain a safe following distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to avoid situations where you may have to brake suddenly. It takes longer to stop on a slippery road. Not sure what’s a safe distance? In poor weather conditions, double the two-second rule.

The two-second rule (courtesy of MTO) is this:
1. Pick a marker on the road ahead, such as a road sign.
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.

And while it would seem rather obvious, drivers should COMPLETELY clear the snow off of their vehicles – this includes the hood, roof, all windows, lights and mirrors. Cleaning snow off your vehicle can be a pain, but doing so prevents putting others at risk as slush and ice can fly off your car and hit other drivers or pedestrians while you drive.

Equipping your vehicle with proper winter tires is an important move too – and it’s still not too late to do so this year.

Winter tires are made of special rubber compounds that improve stopping time not only ice and snow but also cold, dry, wet or slushy driving conditions. The treads on winter tires improve traction by allowing the tire to rid itself of snow as it rolls, giving it a clear bite on the road. Winter tires have a deeper tread pattern and are more flexible, shaving almost 40 per cent off the stopping distance compared to all-season tires.

Look for the ‘snowflake-on-the-mountain symbol’ when shopping for winter tires as tires carrying this mark are specifically designed to meet snow traction requirements. As a general rule of thumb, you want to have your winter tires installed by the end of November, and run them until early April, though that might be a few weeks earlier getting them on or later taking them off depending on where you live.

Having good windshield wipers is part of your safe driving equation too. While you should be replacing your wiper blades every six months, in the winter, if you wiper starts to tear or scrape the windshield then it’s time to replace them. Be cautious about turning on your wipers when they are frozen to the windshield as this could cause them to become damaged and obscure your vision.

Another good idea to is follow the philosophy of “it’s better to have one and not need it, than need one and not have it” when it comes to a winter survival kit. Kits can be purchased at various stores and include items such as a flashlight, blanket and flares. You can also assemble your own, and consider adding items extra warm clothes for you and your passenger in case of an accident or getting stranded. Having a full charged phone and charger will be of great benefit to call for help or roadside assistance in case of an emergency.

Consider the following items for your kit: Blanket or extra clothing; Warm winter gloves, toque and boots; Bag of sand or kitty litter; Small shovel; Ice scraper and/or snow brush; Booster cables; Non-perishable food items; Water bottles; Extra windshield washer fluid; First Aid kit; Flashlight and batteries; Flares; Waterproof matches; Battery jumper cables; Tools; Fire extinguisher; Duct tape.

Another important thing to consider when driving in snowy conditions is not using your cruise control. Cruise control is a convenient feature on most cars, but in wet or slippery conditions, it could cause a more serious accident. By allowing your vehicle to accelerate “on its own”, you forfeit some control. Slippery conditions can cause your tires to lose traction, and cruise control will accelerate to compensate, meaning that when your tires finally hit a patch of road where they regain traction, your car performs unexpectedly – which could result in you losing control.

Overall, winter driving presents risks that aren’t present in any other season, so it’s even more important that you practice safe driving habits. Wear your seat belt. Leave lots of extra space to stop, and slow down, because your car may not be as responsive to steering, braking or accelerating in conditions where the traction is poor. By driving with a little bit of extra caution you can keep you and your family safe on the roads and still be claim free by spring.