Be Safe On The Roads This Winter
Safe driving is always important, but being on
the road during winter warrants extra precautions. That's why we have written up our most important tips to stay safe in hazardous, wintery weather conditions.
1) Avoid slipping and sliding
Ensure your vehicle is ready for Canada’s changing
winter weather, by switching your all-season tires to winter ones before the
temperature drops below 7°C. Winter tires optimize the performance and safety
of winter driving. The braking distance of a winter tire could be up to two
vehicle lengths shorter than the braking distance of an all-season tire.
2) Replace Worn Tires
It’s extremely important to check your tires each
winter season because worn or bald tires can be very dangerous. Tires have tread
wear indicator bars moulded into them. A solid bar of rubber across the width of
the tread means it’s time to replace the tire.
3) Make Sure Your Tires Are Correctly Inflated
For every 5°C drop in temperature, tires lose
one pound of air pressure. To ensure optimum fuel efficiency and prevent
irregular or premature wear, tire inflation should be checked monthly. Several tire manufacturers recommend that tire pressure should be higher in the winter, so check to see whether your tire pressure should be adjusted accordingly.
4) Fill Your Trunk With A Winter Survival Kit
Winter weather can be very unpredictable, so make sure you have a winter survival kit in your trunk in case you get stuck in bad conditions. Every car should have a scraper for the windshield, a small shovel, candles, and warm clothing such as a winter jacket, gloves and a hat. Also, make sure you bring a cell phone with you on every trip in case you need to call for help.
5) Defrost Your Vehicle Properly
Although it takes you a few extra minutes, make sure to properly clean your windows and remove any excess snow from the top of your vehicle. Ice and snow that is left on your vehicle can obstruct your view, causing potentially dangerous situations.
6) Top Up Your Fluids
Wintery road conditions can cause your windshield to get dirty quickly, so make sure your windshield washer fluid is filled up. Also, ensure your gas tank is at least half full, as on very cold days the condensation in the tank can freeze and cause problems.
7) Buckle Up & Adjust To Driving Conditions
Make sure you are always buckled up and adjust your driving to what the conditions are like. You will put yourself and others at risk if you do not change your driving style to suit the wintery conditions.