Winter driving and winter tires

By the end of this topic you can

• You can prepare a vehicle for winter and clear all snow and ice before driving.
• You can drive on snow and ice with gentle steering, braking and acceleration and a longer following gap.
• You can recognize places where black ice is likely and adjust your speed early.
• You can recover from a skid by easing off and steering where you want to go.
• You can pass or follow a snow plow safely.
• You can stay safe if you become stranded in a storm.

What you need to know and understand

• Quebec requires winter tires on Quebec-registered vehicles from 1 December to 15 March.
• British Columbia requires winter tires or chains on designated, signed routes from 1 October to 30 April, though on some routes outside mountain and high-snowfall areas the requirement ends on 31 March.
• Ontario's handbook does not list a winter tire requirement, and Saskatchewan's handbook recommends snow tires rather than requiring them.
• ICBC says stopping on ice can take up to 10 times the normal distance.
• Do not use cruise control on snow, ice or wet roads.
• Black ice forms first on bridges, overpasses, shaded areas and at busy intersections.
• Ice close to the freezing point is more slippery than ice at much colder temperatures.
• If you are stranded, stay with your vehicle.

Getting the car ready before the first snow

A winter check before the cold arrives saves you from most breakdowns. Look at the battery, tires, wipers, heater, defroster and exhaust system, and switch to winter-grade washer fluid. A leaking exhaust can let carbon monoxide into the car, which is far more dangerous when the windows are closed.

Before every trip, brush snow off the whole vehicle: roof, hood, every window, mirrors and all lights. Never drive with snow or frost blocking your view. SGI also suggests keeping the fuel tank at least half full in winter.

• Winter tires carry a mountain and snowflake symbol; Quebec also accepts studded tires.
• BC also accepts tires marked M+S on its designated routes, with at least 3.5 mm of tread.
• Check road reports before you leave. Staying home is sometimes the safest choice.

Driving on snow and ice

On slippery roads, every movement of the steering wheel and pedals must be smooth and small. Sudden inputs break the grip between the tires and the road. Slow down, look further ahead and leave much more space than your normal three-second gap: SGI suggests a five-second following distance during the first snowfalls of the season.

Brake before a curve, not in it, and use a lower gear on icy hills. If you are not sure how slippery it is, test your brakes gently at very low speed when no one is near.

1. If the car starts to skid, ease off the accelerator or brake.
2. Look where you want the car to go and steer smoothly in that direction.
3. Avoid over-steering; be ready to straighten as the car recovers.
4. With ABS, press the brake firmly and hold it, and keep steering. Without ABS, brake just short of locking the wheels.

Plows, whiteouts and getting stranded

Snow plows move slowly and throw up snow and sand. In Ontario they use flashing blue lights, and on freeways several may work side by side across the lanes. Never try to pass between them. Stay well back from any plow.

In a whiteout you cannot tell where the road ends. Use low beams, slow down and do not pass. Never stop in a live lane; pull well off the road and turn on your hazard lights.

If you get stuck in a storm, stay with the vehicle, where rescuers can find you. Keep the exhaust pipe clear, run the engine only for short periods with a window slightly open, and keep a winter kit with warm clothing, a blanket, a shovel, a scraper, a flashlight, food and booster cables.

Common mistakes

• Clearing only a small patch of the windshield. Clear every window, mirror and light, and the roof.
• Using cruise control on a cold highway. Keep it off whenever the road could be slippery.
• Braking hard in the middle of a curve. Slow down in a straight line before the curve.
• Assuming the road is fine because it looks dry. Treat shiny black asphalt, bridges and shaded spots as possible ice.
• Leaving the car to walk for help in a blizzard. Stay with the vehicle.

Test yourself: Winter driving and winter tires

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Winter Driving in Canada for New Drivers