Driving on Ice - An Ontario Reality

December 13, 2016, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

Icy road conditions are the scourge of Canadian winters. In snow a car travelling at appropriate speed with snow tires can still be steered and stopped. On ice physics takes over and stopping often only happens on impact. Black ice is particularly dangerous as there may be little to no warning that you are on ice until you hit it and sense the loss of control of the vehicle.

It is this danger that makes it particularly important to be vigilant, and to be properly equipped in the winter on the roads of Ontario. At any time when winter driving you should be

1. Prepared for the conditions with winter tires. They are softer and ‘stickier’ providing better traction on the snow.
2. Always carry a shovel, booster cables, car scraper, and a blanket
3. Clear your car off before driving
4. Drive smoothly (no sudden acceleration/deceleration) with no sudden wheel movements.
5. Drive more slowly
6. Don’t tailgate
7. Begin to brake well before any turn.
8. Learn to control skids.
9. Don’t pump the brakes, apply consistent pressure slowly and let your ABS help you
10. Keep a firm grip on the wheel at all times.

In bad driving conditions reduce ALL distractions. Radio off, no talking. Preferable the passenger controls all climate controls and hazard light use for you.

If you hit ice

1. Focus on retaining control of the car.
2. Immediately activate hazard lights to warn drivers of emergency driving conditions.
3. Remember that at some point the ice will end.
4. Remember that you cannot steer on ice, just look where you want to go on the road, not at what you are going to hit.
5. Moving your wheels too much can cause you to begin spinning.
6. Take foot off gas immediately.
7. Keep looking forward for signs of ice ending and dangers.
8. If you are in the right lane you can try to use the curb to slow the car down.
9. Do not brake suddenly. Once you have locked your brakes you will not be able to steer at all when you finally get off the ice.

Sadly, ice is something we will all encounter on winter roads. Knowing what to expect and how to react are keys to being safe.

You can watch a recent video of what happens on ice here.

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.