4 Basic Winter Driving Risks And What You Can Do About It

Winter weather driving can be brutal and replete with risk and anxiety. For morning commuters, there can be several different weather fronts depending on which parts of Ontario you're driving through that can cause everything from dangerous road conditions to highway stop-and-go traffic.

As noted throughout this blog, preparation is critical. Luck favours those who are prepared, and the difference between being prepared and not being prepared is as simple as effort. It doesn't take much to remember to put a pair of boots and your parka in the trunk of your vehicle if you're going to work in your wing-tips and cashmere coat. Here are some basic risks for winter weather and what you can do to mitigate them:

1. Blizzards: No this is not the ice cream treat--I wish it were as sweet and creamy! No--a winter blizzard is serious stuff with all that blowing snow and lack of visibility. And it can sweep up under and over and around your vehicle so fast, especially along Ontario's highways, that you can easily be caught unprepared. Some ways to mitigate this are checking the weather ahead of time, leaving yourself lots of time to get to your destination, making sure you've got, at the least, your brush and scraper if not a shovel. Take it slow and easy, and if the visibility is too great, you can always pull your vehicle over, put on your 4-way hazards, and chill...

2. Freezing Rain: This is rain that falls through a cold-air patch and freezes upon impact on the ground, causing some very treacherous driving conditions. If it's freezing rain along the roads and highways, consider driving under the speed limit, and using extra-caution around other vehicles. It doesn't hurt to let someone into your lane if they need to get in. As well, keep some salt and/or sand/kitty litter in your trunk in case you get stuck on an ice patch and can't get free. Putting a bit of salt and sand under and around your tires can help melt the ice and create more traction.

3. Rain: Heavy rainfall in conditions where there is already snow can lead to tremendous water run-offs and even flooding. When such weather occurs, Environment Canada will usually issue a rain-fall warning. If you're in areas that tend to flood, proceed with caution.

4. Blowing Snow: The big problem with blowing snow is drifts: on one patch of road it's level with considerable traction; suddenly you hit a snow drift and can't gauge the depth quickly enough and in the ditch you go. In conditions of blowing snow, you need to really slow down, and try to avoid driving through snow that looks suspiciously drifty and deep. It's important you have a shovel and warm clothes in your vehicle in the event you get stuck and have to dig yourself out.

Again, the most important thing is preparation that you can do right now. Simply ensure you have the right tools and resources packed in your vehicle that can assist you in the event you are besieged by winter weather brutality. Make sure you've got enough windshield wiper fluid, a good multi-tool (like McGyver wouldn't leave home without), a shovel, some salt/kitty litter, a good pair of boots, gloves, extra layers, blankets, candles, matches, health bars, etc--especially if you commute to and from work everyday.