The four Ps of safe winter driving

Get ready for the snowy, icy roads ahead.

Wintry conditions and slick roadways require all motorists to rethink their driving habits. By following the “four Ps” of winter driving—preparation, planning, patience, and practice—you can help keep Ontario’s roads safe for everyone.

Preparation

The first stage of safe winter driving involves tasks that are carried out by employers and workers. Ideally, this preparatory work should occur before winter arrives.

Employers can set a strong example for commercial drivers—and employees who drive for work—by adopting policies and reinforcing procedures for safe winter driving.

A winter driving policy outlines how all employees should maintain and operate their vehicles. It can be part of an overall road safety policy or health and safety program policy. It should cover all employees who drive for work, promote practices that reduce exposure to hazards, describe the responsibilities of workplace parties, and meet (but preferably exceed) minimum legislative requirements.

Documenting safe-driving procedures and reviewing them with all drivers can help them prepare for winter conditions. Some procedures to outline include:

• Pre-trip assessment: The process of making a trip as safe as possible from the outset (e.g., by determining the safest route). For non-commercial drivers, you might ask whether driving is even necessary. Can the work be done virtually instead? Can alternative modes of transportation (e.g., public transit) be used?
• Working alone: If workers are driving alone, how often must they check in with dispatch or a supervisor? Should they file a route plan and ETA before departing?
• Fitness for driving: Workers should meet minimum requirements for safety, such as being rested, nourished, and hydrated—and medically fit to drive.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE): Provide drivers with information about the PPE they should have in case of emergency—for example, a high-visibility vest. This can also include guidance about proper driving attire.

Whether employees drive their own vehicles, company cars, or commercial vehicles, steps must also be taken to ensure those vehicles are fit for winter road conditions. That preparatory work includes:

• Pre-winter assessment: A pre-season service appointment can identify issues that could make winter driving more dangerous.
• Winter tires: Install them for better traction and stopping power on slippery roads—and whenever temperatures dip below 7°C.
• Other checks: Replace damaged or ineffective windshield wipers, use winter-grade washer fluid, keep the fuel tank topped up (or at least half full), and clear snow and ice from the vehicle before departing.

And drivers themselves can ensure they’re equipped for safe, comfortable driving—and possible emergencies—by having:

• An emergency kit: Very useful in the event of an incident or breakdown, it should contain things like first aid supplies, a warm blanket, reflective pylons, a high-vis vest, flashlight, collapsible shovel, and traction mats or sand. Personal items like extra clothes, water, and food can be helpful, too. And don’t forget a phone and charger!
• An emergency plan: Know what needs to be done if a vehicle gets stuck at the roadside. (Step one: don’t panic.) In an emergency, call 911. For non-emergencies, have a roadside assistance plan (e.g., through your workplace or insurance company).
• Winter driving training: Workers who are not comfortable driving in winter conditions may wish to ask their employer for additional winter-driving training.

Planning

A few minutes of pre-trip planning can make for smoother travel. Know how you’ll get to your destination—and how long the drive should take—before you leave. And plan a secondary route in case conditions change and make your original route unsafe.

Other factors to consider include:

• Stops: Identify service centres, rest areas, and any other locations where you can stop safely if you need fuel or start to get tired, or if the weather becomes hazardous.
• Time: Always give yourself extra time to reach your destination—to allow for changes to weather or traffic conditions.
• Road conditions: Consult the Ontario 511 mobile app or website (511on.ca) for real-time information on road conditions, incidents, and closures, plus other hazards as reported by the Ministry of Transportation and more than 600 highway cameras. Check a trusted source, such as Environment Canada or the Weather Network, for details about weather conditions along your route and at your destination.

Patience

Risky behaviours like driving too fast and following too closely—two of the main causes of winter collisions—become even more dangerous on slippery roads or under poor visibility. Be patient and adjust your driving to the weather, road, and traffic conditions. You’ll improve your ability to control your vehicle by:

• Obeying speed limits: Posted speed limits indicate safe speeds for driving under ideal conditions. You may have to drive significantly slower than normal on snowy or icy roads.
• Giving space: Even with winter tires, snow or ice on the road means your vehicle needs three to 12 times the amount of stopping space (versus on dry roads). Leave at least four seconds of following distance: pick a stationary object such as a road sign, and count the seconds after the vehicle in front of you passes it. Four seconds should elapse before you pass the same object.
• Being predictable: Don’t make sudden lane changes, speed up to get through an amber light, or accelerate suddenly from a stop sign.
• Being stress-free: Help your cautious-driving cause by leaving extra time to get to your destination. That way, if weather or road conditions change during your trip, you’ll be able to safely account for them.

Practice

Preparation, planning, and patience help to take some of the stress out of winter driving. But behind the wheel, you need to put your knowledge of safe driving into practice. Follow these best practices to help you get to your destination safely:

• Drive defensively: Take your time, increase your following distance, and make allowances for possible errors by other road users.
• Eliminate distractions: It is illegal in Ontario to use a phone or other handheld device while driving. In challenging conditions, it’s also wise to control other sources of distraction, such as eating, talking on the phone, or listening to the radio.
• Be aware: Distraction-free driving means you can be more observant of road conditions. Check your mirrors frequently and look ahead for signs of hazards. For example, a reflection on the road may indicate black ice, while flat, barren roadsides may pose a risk of blowing snow.
• Handle with care: Steer gently into curves and turns; brake and accelerate gradually. Making abrupt, forceful manoeuvres in slippery conditions can cause your vehicle to skid.
• Forget cruise control: Using cruise control increases your reaction time (and reduces your ability to control your vehicle) if you need to slow down or stop unexpectedly.
• Slow for emergency vehicles: Reduce your speed to at least 60 km/hour (or less if the posted speed limit is lower) when approaching emergency vehicles or tow trucks that are stopped with their lights flashing. Move over one lane if it’s safe to do so.
• Take care near commercial vehicles: Trucks, buses, and other large vehicles have larger blind spots and need more space to safely stop and turn. They can also create visibility hazards for smaller vehicles, such as flying slush or blowing snow.
• Give snow plows space: A plow driver’s field of vision is limited, and the plow itself can throw up clouds of snow, reducing visibility to near zero. Keep your distance and avoid passing, if possible, especially as some plow parts may extend into the adjacent lane and/or shoulder. Remember: the cleared road behind a plow is safer than the snow-covered road in front of it.