How you can prepare for winter driving

 

By: Cesare Wallace

 

It’s getting closer to winter in Canada and many people are wondering when the snow will start to fall, but with snow comes winter driving and its important to be prepared. Whether its how to prepare your vehicle for winter or once you out on the snowy roads it’s important to be ready for the harsh driving conditions of winter in order to protect yourself and others on the road. The most car accidents in Ontario are in the months of December, January, and February, this is largely in part to do with the heavy snowfall and the lack of preparation by drivers. In this article a thorough list of preparation for your winter vehicle will be explained as well as techniques and etiquette when driving on the road.

Seneca spoke to automotive experts at the Toronto star to get some advice to how to prepare your car for winter.

 

1. Winter tires

Many people are unsure of the effectiveness of winter tires and some will not use them at all, but winter tires can seriously change your driving experience. Winter tires have a softer compound and a different tread pattern which means they perform better in the snow. Experts recommend that you change over to your winter when temperatures hit below 7 degrees celsius as they work much more effectively than summer tires or all seasons in colder temperatures regardless of snowfall.

Snowfall is just around the corner. For drivers out there, do you use winter or all-season tires? #driving #travel #winteriscoming #senecamedia #saynews

— SAY News (@SayNews1) November 2, 2018

2. Battery

Car batteries last approximately 5 years so if your battery is close to or past this date you should consider changing it. In the colder conditions batteries need more energy or “voltage” to start your car so if it is old it may not be able to start your vehicle.

 

3. Windshield

Keeping your windshield in good condition is vital to safe winter driving as it is your main method of visibility in your vehicle. Make sure your windshield wiper fluid is topped up with correct mixture for below zero temperatures. Windshield wipers should also be changed if they are leaving streaks or patches of rain on the windshield. This is important because this issue will only get worse with snow and ice and could seriously affect your visibility. When clearing your windshield it is important to make sure the entire surface is clear and not just a small patch, always keep an ice scraper in your vehicle to properly and effectively clear the glass. When scraping ice and snow off the windshield you should also remove it from the mirrors, other windows, and the headlights as they are vital to a safe drive.  

4. Radiator

Always make sure your radiator is topped up with antifreeze or your radiator will freeze and your car will overheat.

 

5. Additional equipment

Other items you should keep in your vehicle in the winter months include; ice scraper for clearing your vehicle, a small shovel to dig yourself out incase your vehicle gets stuck, warm gloves and a hat for emergencies, and a bag of sand or kitty litter to put down around your wheels for extra traction if you get stuck.

 

Once you’ve prepared your vehicle for winter your ready to set off, but there are common practices and methods you should learn for winter driving. Many accidents in winter occur due to drivers lack of knowledge and uncertainties in harsh conditions, these techniques will help you stay safe and informed.

 

It’s important to remember in emergency stopping situations that you have more than just your foot break to use. If you feel your not stopping sificently and it may result in an accident engage your hand/emergency brake. This combined with the foot break will give you the maximum chance of stopping safely. This will mainly be useful with many Seneca students crossing the street at undesignated stops unexpectedly.

 

Remember to always remain calm when driving and allow yourself extra time to arrive at your destination as driving in snow will take longer, this includes driving to class! If you feel the need to pull over on the road make sure you do so into a parking lot or exit of some kind. This is necessary as in the winter snow plows will push all the snow from the road over to the hard shoulder and there will be no space to safely be to the side.

 

If a snow plow has not yet cleared the road you are driving on its important to work with other drivers to stay safe. If you are in a smaller vehicle that is not off-road capable like a hatchback or sedan stay in the tracks/ruts created by vehicles before you and do not veer out of them. If you drive a larger vehicle that can handle off-road conditions try partially or fully driving out of the pre-existing tracks to help create wider roads and safer conditions.

Stick to these plans and procedures and you will be able to conquer the mighty winter and keep the roads safe for yourself and other drivers, happy driving!