Winter driving

Below is a list of what not to do. Perhaps, instead, we should know what we ought to do. Mind you, anyone *I* know doesn't do this kind of thing! Somehow, on that fateful day, I captured two shots of the car in Port Carling!

$110 fine in Ontario!

What a sight!

Driving kit

1. Slow down, adjust your speed in bad weather.
2. Leave space between your vehicle and the next. (Even though, yes, people drive into it. It takes 4 - 10 % longer to brake on ice or snow.)
3. Look ahead of the car ahead of you. Prepare.
4. Even 4-wheel drive doesn't help in some road conditions. Be smart, not arrogant.
5. Relax, give yourself enough time to get there, leave early, or prepare to be late.
6. Break down your actions: brake gently, then steer smoothly, then finally, accelerate out of the skid.
7. Keep your front and rear lights on, it helps those around you.
8. Ensure that you can feel the brake properly with your feet, through your footwear.
9. Clear off your car. It's a $110 fine in Ontario if you do not.
10. Plan for the worst: blanket, kitty litter or sand, safety candle, first aid box, extra food, flares.

 The 10 biggest mistakes people make when winter driving – via Cottage Life |

The 10 biggest mistakes people make when winter driving

We’re Canadians. We should, in theory, know how to drive in snowy, icy conditions, laughing at the ravages of winter as we cruise comfortably to our destination.

COTTAGELIFE.COM

Driving in Winter in Muskoka

Winter driving can be dangerous on Muskoka roads. A snow squall resulted in two deaths this past week, as one citizen crossed the road to assist another driver.The highway was shut down for many hours.
Update: Today (Thursday), snow falls in big clumps.

Long, winding highways, with narrow roads that over look lakes, put people at risk. We lost 3 young men in 2007, when drunk driving sent them into the lake where they drowned. Over the rail, they were helpless to get out of the water from the submerged car.

If you go into the water: remove your seatbelt, use electronics they''ll last a minute)  to lower windows, grab children and get out. This means when you get into a vehicle know where the door handles and the window mechanisms are located. It could mean your life.

Transport Canada offers some guidelines. Click on the brochure image to download the PDF file, or check out the HTML web page.
Here are the top ten tips.

Prevent problems before they occur: Top 10 tips

1. Get your vehicle ready for winter in the fall.
2. Install four matching winter tires.
3. Pack an emergency kit.
4. Learn and practice winter driving techniques before you need them.
5. Plan your trip, check road and weather conditions.
6. Remove all snow from your vehicle before each trip.
7. Give yourself extra travel time in bad weather.
8. Avoid using overdrive and cruise control on slippery roads.
9. Travel with a fully charged cell phone.
10. SLOW DOWN and WEAR your seatbelt.

Many myths prevail around pumping brakes (not with ABS systems), but your best bet is snow tires, getting an emergency kit and checking your lights, brakes and battery.

Here is a photo from Nov. 11th, 2008!
Today: rain showers and wet flurries dominate driving conditions. be prepared.

winter driving

Winter driving can be an iffy proposition. Sudden snow squall can hamper even the careful driver. I have blogged elsewhere about senior drivers, who have become the most at-risk group.

There are some things to remember specifically in winter. The Ministry of Transportation provides some tips:


Transport Canada warns of those in intersections being the most at risk. Current stats, in the recent Ontario move to more severly curtail teen drivers, reveals statistics that demonstrate seniors are more risky than newbie teen drivers:

• 6.4 % of fatal accidents caused by those less than 20 years of age
  
• 7.3 % caused by those over age 65 (with fewer km traveled).

• With 16 - 19 yr. olds have accident rates of 2.47 per 10,000
• Adults over the age of 65: 2.9 per 10,000

Drivers make 8 - 12 decisions every km, with only seconds to respond in some cases. The wise driver practices defensive driving habits. We know that speeding kills. We know that almost one in five drivers age 16 - 24 were speeding at the time of a crash. Also, while total deaths are down, attributed to Ontario graduated licencing rules, more pedestrians and motorcyclists are dying.

Please be careful out there. Drive according to road conditions. Let those more inclined to speed to pass you. There is no sense stressing out both you and the guy tailgaiting you in his determination, and self-importance, to get to his destination before you do. If you spot someone driving erratically report them to the police. You could prevent a fatality.