Are you ready for winter?

Better to be safe than sorry: Prepare now for cold and slippery driving conditions

Oct 24, 2008

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Special to the Star

This week's first snowfall should have served as a timely warning to not delay preparations for winter weather, otherwise you could find yourself in a ditch or calling CAA for a boost.

It is vital to ready both yourself and your vehicle for winter driving. Spending some time and money now can save you grief and hardship during the snowy season. Better safe than sorry.

Here are some steps you can take:

The most essential vehicle preparation is to install winter tires. For maximum safety, all vehicles, including all-wheel drives, should have four winter tires. Quebec has made it mandatory for personal vehicles to be equipped with winter tires as of Nov. 15.

Quebec officials realize that these specialized tires offer motorists up to 40 per cent more traction than all-season tires. The grip of an all-season tire deteriorates at temperatures below 7C, as the rubber hardens in cold temperatures. Winter tires use rubber compounds designed to deliver traction at temperatures as low as -25C.

Although they are not mandatory in Ontario, Desjardins General Insurance just announced that it is offering a 5 per cent discount to cusomters in the province who use winter tires.

Contrary to what you hear from vehicle manufacturers, all-wheel-drive technology is not a safety feature and will not give your tires more grip.

AWD is a performance feature and only enhances acceleration, not cornering or braking grip. It is a common misconception that AWD will make you safer when conditions deteriorate.

Many drivers with AWD become over-confident, since they have four tires providing grip for acceleration, unlike front- or rear-wheel-drive vehicles.

However, they tend to forget they still have only two tires providing steering and most of the braking grip, as do two-wheel-drive vehicles.

This leads to a tendency to drive faster than conditions warrant, resulting in a disproportionate number of AWD vehicles sliding into snowy ditches.

Don't wait for that first big storm to get your winter tires installed. Even if you manage to stay on the road, the wait to have winter tires installed can be many hours long (and stocks can run out) for those who procrastinate.

Vision and visibility are vital to safe driving. Make sure your windshield washer nozzles are not blocked and are aimed at the windshield.

Check that your wiper blades are in excellent shape and that you have enough antifreeze washer fluid. Keep a good-quality pair of sunglasses within easy reach to reduce road glare on snowy or wet winter roads during sunny days.

Review your owner's manual so you know how to clear fog or frost off the inside of your windows efficiently. Use your air conditioner in the winter as an effective dehumidifier.

Be sure all your lights are working properly so your vehicle will be more visible.

To ensure your vehicle will start on the coldest of mornings, make sure your battery is in good shape, and clean the battery terminals and cables.

Synthetic oils do not congeal in cold weather the way conventional oils do, so they aid starting and lubrication at cold temperatures.

Preparing your vehicle is only half the battle. Preparing the driver is even more important.

We must adapt to driving with limited traction. Road conditions can change drastically in a matter of metres. If you are unsure of how to drive in these conditions or lack confidence, enrol in a specialized winter driving school to help you learn limited-traction driving skills.

Motorists need to focus on driving in order to see changing conditions and then process that information into prudent driving adjustments. Do not allow yourself to become distracted by cellphones, navigation aids or passengers.

Never drive wearing winter coats or boots.

There are documented crashes involving motorists who applied both the brake and gas pedal at the same time. They simply could not feel the difference through their winter boots.

After removing all the snow and ice from your vehicle, take off your winter coat and boots and drive wearing thin-soled shoes.

This will allow you to feel exactly how much pedal pressure you are applying, and to which pedal.

Wear a sweater or light coat while driving. The added resistance from a bulky winter coat is counterproductive to applying smooth steering corrections to remain in control.

You will be more comfortable, and seat belts rarely fit properly over winter coats, increasing the chance of injury in a crash.

Never drive anywhere in winter with less than half a tank of fuel. Roads can close and you could be stuck in the middle of nowhere without a source of warmth.

Check the expected weather conditions before you drive anywhere. If there is a warning of freezing rain, snow or bad driving conditions, stay home. No destination, not even work, is worth risking your life.

Toronto Star