Winter Driving in Canada

If you haven’t joined the flocks of snowbirds yet (or never intend to) then you know that this change in weather means one thing for your car – time to get ready for winter driving in Canada. Winters here can be harsh, and if you are not properly prepared, it can be downright dangerous. Now is the time to take a few simple steps towards preparing your vehicle for the challenges of driving in the snow.

Car Care Canada dedicates the month of October as Car Safety Month. But don’t worry if you missed it, just don’t delay any longer. These simple proactive tips will help you get ahead of the weather, keeping you safer, avoiding collisions, and preventing you from being stranded in the middle of nowhere in the cold.

• Slow Down – a surprising number of collisions in the winter involve motorists not driving to the road conditions. By slowing your speed, you give yourself the extra time required to react to those unexpected mishaps on the road.

• Get an Oil Change – in our climate, it is wise to change to winter weight oil, and while you are at it, have all of the vehicle fluid levels topped up too. This includes the coolant, power steering, brake and transmission fluids as well as changing to a winter windshield washer fluid.

• Switch to winter tires – don’t be misled by all-season tires. Snow tires are made from rubber compounds that remain soft and flexible, maintaining the optimal traction for your vehicle. This will help you maintain control in snowy, icy conditions.

• Replace windshield wipers – in bad weather, nothing makes things worse than ineffective wipers that impair your vision. Consider winter wiper blades specifically made to withstand the harsh winter temperatures.

• Pack an emergency kit – every vehicle should have an ice scraper, snow brush, jumper cables, a flash light, a blanket, candles and matches and some dry food packed and ready to go. A good first aid kit is wise to carry all year round and now-a-days everyone has a trusted cell phone on hand. If you don’t use a cell phone, just keep an old one in your car charged and ready – every cell phone, whether activated or not, can make a 911 call.

For more information, check out Car Care Canada’s Seasonal page or call us for car insurance in Kingston, car insurance in Belleville or any of our branch offices. We would be happy to provide tips on winterizing your Kingston home insurance too. Call us at 1-800-391-0941.