Sharing the road and winter driving in Ontario

By the end of this topic you can

• You can pass cyclists with the legal minimum space.
• You can drive safely near streetcars, large trucks and slow vehicles.
• You can cross railway tracks safely.
• You can adjust your driving for snow, ice, whiteouts and wildlife.

What you need to know and understand

• When passing a cyclist, leave at least one metre where practical; failing to do so can bring two demerit points.
• Pass streetcars on the right unless on a one-way road, and stay at least two metres behind their rear doors at stops.
• If a train is coming, stop at least five metres from the nearest rail or gate. A train can need up to two kilometres to stop.
• Snow plows use flashing blue lights; never pass between staggered plows.
• Residents of northern Ontario may legally use studded tires; four winter or all-weather tires are recommended for winter.
• Moose, deer and other wild animals are most active at dusk and dawn.

People on foot and on bikes

Most intersections have crosswalks, even when unmarked. Do not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. Cyclists may use the whole lane to avoid hazards. When turning right, check your right blind spot; when turning left, wait for oncoming cyclists. Before opening your door, check mirrors and over your shoulder. Opening with your far hand (the Dutch reach) forces that shoulder check. Our guide on Ontario streetcar rules and sharing the road with cyclists goes further.

Big, slow or heavy vehicles

• Trucks have large blind spots; if you cannot see the driver's face in their mirror, they cannot see you.
• Do not squeeze into the space beside a truck making a wide turn.
• Leave room behind large vehicles stopped on hills; they may roll back.
• Let buses leave a bus bay when their left signal flashes.
• Slow down for farm machinery and horse-drawn vehicles and pass only when safe and with plenty of space.

Winter and wildlife

Slow down on snow, avoid sudden steering or braking, and do not use cruise control on slippery roads. Shiny dark asphalt may be black ice, which forms first on bridges and shaded spots. In a whiteout, use low beams, increase following distance and pull well off the road into a safe area if you cannot see; never stop in a live lane. If stranded, stay with your vehicle, open a window slightly and run the engine sparingly. Carry a winter kit with warm clothing, food, a flashlight, a shovel and a blanket.

If an animal appears, slow down and sound your horn rather than swerving around it, and watch for others nearby.

Common mistakes

• Squeezing past a cyclist in the same lane. Change lanes if you cannot leave a metre.
• Passing a streetcar on the left on a two-way street. Pass on the right.
• Using high beams in fog or snow. Low beams reduce glare from water and ice.
• Stopping on the tracks in heavy traffic. Wait until there is room to clear the crossing.

Test yourself: Sharing the road and winter driving in Ontario

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

Go deeper

• Ontario Streetcar Rules and Sharing the Road With Cyclists
• Ontario ATV and snowmobile road rules
• DriveTest Road Test Booking in Ontario