5 Tips for Safe Winter Driving

​Winter driving in Southern Ontario can pose a number of risks to yourself and your vehicle. Slippery roads and poor visibility caused by lots of snow and ice often lead to unfavourable road conditions.
The good news is that you can make special adjustments to your driving and your car that will allow getting behind the wheel this winter season more enjoyable and problem free. 

1. Winter Tires Make All The Difference - ​Winter tires can significantly improve your driving performance – whether you’re stuck in a blizzard or caught off guard by black ice. The softer tread of a winter tire offers more grip and can mitigate the risk of losing control behind the wheel.  Counter to popular belief, all season tires simply can’t compete with winter rubber. Winter tires are made from a different rubber compound that is softer and more flexible than all season tires, resulting in better grip and performance.  Winter tires also offer a more aggressive tread pattern, which allows snow and ice to easily exit the tire as the tire rotates. 
2. Avoid Stress, Get a Car Tune-Up - The last thing you want to happen in a winter storm is your car breaking down. Before the cold season rolls in, be sure to get a car tune-up. Perhaps the oil needs changed, or the purchase of a new set of winter windshield wipers is in order.
   Another item to consider is wiper wash, as not all are created the same. The more expensive brands perform better in extreme temperatures than cheaper ones.  In any case, a professional auto mechanic will guarantee all parts and fluids are running well for winter driving. 
3. ​Maintain a Full Gas Tank - Maintaining a full or near full tank of gas in the wintertime will weigh down your vehicle enough to improve traction and thereby your safety. To give you an idea, five gallons of gas (or one large gas can) weighs approximately 40 pounds.
   It also doesn’t hurt to have more gas on hand than normal in case of emergency or in the event that you’re stuck in the countryside and need to keep warm while waiting for a tow truck to arrive. 
4. Know How to Handle a Skid - It’s almost inevitable that you will experience a skid while driving in the winter. This can be scary, as the car seems to have its own idea of where it wants to go. Skids occur when a driver temporarily loses control and or traction of the vehicle.
   Types of skids that you can encounter in winter conditions include fishtailing, over steer, under steer, wheel lockup, and wheel spin. The trick is to know how to handle these skids and how to avoid them. You can enroll in advanced driving courses that teach individuals how to combat skidding situations, a good idea if you live in an area that encounters strong winter conditions

​Prepping your car for winter driving can give you peace of mind but also keep you safer on the road. Be sure to change your tires from all seasons to winters, and install a new set of winter blades. Also necessary to combat winter driving emergencies is keeping a full gas tank, as well as a set of flares, jumper cables, and a first aid kit.