Winter safety driving tips for people living in Ontario

If the police, RCMP and news reporters do say that driving is not recommended due to poor weather try not to drive, but if you got to drive here is some info to keep you, your passengers, and other people on the road safe. Below is some tips to help you and your passengers stay safe, and some contact information.


Prior to driving in winter:

1. Get your car in the fall fixed and ready for winter 

2.  Install 4 matching winter tires

3. Pack an emergency kit in your vehicle (included in the emergency kit: blanket, mitts or gloves/ jacket/ warm hat, a bottle of water,  water proof matches, jumper cables, flashlight with batteries, emergency contact numbers [for example 9-1-1, AMA emergency road side assistance, taxi phone number], non perishable snacks.)  

4. Make sure you and your passengers are wearing proper clothing for the weather (for example if it's cold make sure everyone is wearing a winter coat, winter boots, mitts/ gloves, winter hat or hood, and a scarf).

5.  Learn how to drive safe in winter (for example take a winter driving course through your local Canadian Automobile Association)

6. Plan your trip. Check road conditions prior to departure.

7. Give yourself extra time to travel.

8. Travel with a fully charged and working cell phone.

9. Tell someone you trust where you are going and when you are planning to return.

10. On slippery roads don't use your cruise control

11.  Give yourself extra space between vehicles

12. Slow down and make sure everyone in the car is wearing a seat belt.

13. Driving in winter is risky so be patient and alert.

14. Make sure you have extra warm clothes (for example coat/ mitts/ scarf/ hat) and a shovel in your vehicle trunk.  

15.  Carry some sandbags in your vehicle. They can be used as weights to give the vehicle more traction on icy roads, and they can be used on icy roads to help get your vehicle out of the area.


15. Take a break from driving when needed in a safe and warm location.

16. Bring money in case you need to find an alternate form of transportation, make a phone call on a public phone,  buy food, or find shelter until the bad weather passes. Please note if you need to find a safe place to stay for the night you may need to use a credit card at a hotel since many of them don't accept cash or debit cards.

17. Give yourself some extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you so that if you get hit from behind you can prevent your car from hitting the car in front.

19. If you do end up waiting for assistance from either a tow truck, or emergency personel please be patient. They may be really busy trying to assist everyone who needs help. Your patience probably would be much appreciated.



Winter Driving Tips:

For more information on how to stay safe while driving in winter please visit the websites below.

Winter Driving Transport Canada:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/safevehicles-safetyfeatures-winterdriving-index-693.htm

AMA (Alberta motor Vehicle's  Winter Driving Tips:
http://www.amawestworld.ca/westworld/?/articles/video_winter_driving_tips/

What to include in your emergency roadside kit
 http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/kts/cr-kt-en.aspx


Canadian Automobile Associations how to make your vehicle Winter Ready brochure:
http://caa.ca/docs/eng/winterdrivingbrochure_en.pdf


Weather/ road conditions:

Ontario Ministry of Transportation road conditions:
 http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/conditions/ 

The Weather Network:

http://www.theweathernetwork.com

Yahoo! Canada Weather:
http://ca.weather.yahoo.com


CAA Emergency Roadside Assistance:
http://www.caasco.com/Auto/Roadside-Services/Contact-Roadside-Services.aspx

If you need directions to find a safe place to stay warm please check these 2 websites below out.

1. Google maps:
https://maps.google.ca/

2. Map Quest Caanda:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?country=CA



For more info on how to stay warm this winter season please visit the link below:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-to-stay-warm.html


If  all else fails and you and your passenger(s) are in  immediate danger please call 9-1-1 and they can help you out.

To go back to the home page please visit the link below. 
http://safeandwarmtoronto.blogspot.ca/2013/12/winter-safety-tips-for-torontonians-and.html