7 Winter Driving Tips

December 12, 2022, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

Winter Driving. We all know it’s coming. Somehow, we almost always get caught off guard. The first stop sign, sudden steering or slide quickly remind us to slow down and pay attention.

Along with colder temperatures come the snow and ice on the surface of the road, on cars and in the air. They limit visibility, change vehicle handling and make road surfaces slippery. This all adds up to what we know as winter driving.

Here are some expert tips to help to keep you safe on the road.

1.      SLOW DOWN black ice, flog, slush and snow all make driving dangerous. Slowing down gives you more reaction time and less momentum. You’ll be able to control your vehicle better.

2.      LEAVE EXTRA SPACE when your stopping distances are longer than usual, you’ll appreciate the extra space. It too will give you the time you need to slow down or react when the road conditions change when you begin to lose control, or when cars/drivers around you are in trouble.

3.      KEEP YOUR WASHER FLUID FULL nothing spells trouble like running out of washer fluid on a snowy/slushy day, especially on the highway. Consider always carrying a spare bottle in the car.

4.      KEEP YOUR GAS TOPPED up you’ll help avoid getting water from condensation in your gas and if you get stuck in WINTER STOPPAGES, OR IN THE SNOW, YOU’LL APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO STAY WARM

5.      CLEAR ICE AND SNOW OFF YOUR CAR nothing is more dangerous than not being alt ot see clearly out of your car. You also risk blinding cars around you when the snow and ice begin blowing off your car. Flying ice can injure pedestrians and damage other vehicles.

6.      CARRY AN EMERGENCY CAR KIT that contains

·      Non-perishable food like energy bars and candy
·      Water
·      A blanket, winter boots, a hat, mittens and scarf
·      First Aid Kit
·      A shovel and snow brush
·      Flashlight/flares
·      Candles, matches and a can for melting snow/heating water
·      Maps
·      Phone charger
·      Sand/cat litter for traction if you get stuck
·      A tow rope or chain
·      Jumper cables

Remember that although you are much safer in a crisis in urban areas. In rural and remote areas it can take hours for a tow truck or police to arrive particularly if you are in a cell dead zone in bad weather. Make sure you are prepared for the conditions.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.