Sharing the road and winter driving in Quebec

By the end of this topic you can

• You can pass cyclists and pedestrians with the legal space.
• You can stop correctly for pedestrians at a crosswalk.
• You can drive safely around trucks, buses and snow removal vehicles.
• You can cross railway tracks safely.
• You can prepare your car and your driving for a Quebec winter.

What you need to know and understand

• Leave at least 1 metre when passing a cyclist or pedestrian where the limit is 50 km/h or less, and 1.5 metres where it is higher.
• Stop for a pedestrian who steps onto a crosswalk or clearly shows they want to cross.
• Passing a cyclist without enough room, or not yielding to pedestrians, carries 2 points.
• At a level crossing, stop at least 5 metres from the rails when a signal, gate or flagger warns of a train, or when you see or hear one.
• Winter tires are required from 1 December to 15 March inclusive; only studded tires or tires with the mountain and snowflake pictogram count.
• Driving with snow or ice that could fly off, or windows not cleared, can bring a fine.

People on foot and on bikes

Slow down and keep your distance: 1 metre in zones of 50 km/h or less, 1.5 metres above that. If you cannot give that space, do not pass in the same lane. You may cross a solid line to pass a cyclist when it is safe. Check your mirror before opening a door, and try opening it with the hand farthest from the door so you naturally turn to look. At crosswalks, stop as soon as someone enters or clearly signals they want to cross, for example by waiting at the kerb or making eye contact.

Trucks, buses and emergency vehicles

Snow removal vehicles have large blind spots, so stay well back.

• Leave extra room when stopped behind a loaded truck; it can roll back slightly when moving off.
• Give trucks space to turn. A truck turning right may swing left first.
• If you cannot see the truck driver's mirrors, the driver cannot see you.
• Stop at least 5 metres from a school bus with flashing lights or stop sign on (9 points if you do not).
• Pull right and stop if needed for emergency vehicles using lights or a siren, and move over for stopped ones (4 points if you do not).

Railway crossings and wildlife

When lights, a gate, a railway worker or your own eyes and ears warn of a train, stop at least 5 metres from the nearest rail. Never start across unless there is room to clear the tracks completely on the other side. In rural areas, watch the roadsides at dawn and dusk where animal warning signs are posted, and slow down so you can stop.

Getting through a Quebec winter

1. Fit winter tires before 1 December and keep them on until at least 15 March.
2. Clear all snow and ice from the windows, lights, roof and hood before leaving.
3. Make sure the exhaust pipe is clear before running the engine, to avoid carbon monoxide build-up.
4. Slow down and leave a longer gap; failing to adapt to conditions carries 2 points.
5. Keep a kit with a brush, scraper, washer fluid and shovel, and check road conditions on Quebec 511 before long trips.

Common mistakes

• Squeezing past a cyclist in the same lane. Wait until you can give 1 or 1.5 metres.
• Driving off with a snow-covered roof. Chunks can fly off and hit other drivers.
• Stopping on the tracks in slow traffic. Wait until there is room on the far side.
• Following snowplows closely. Their drivers often cannot see you.

Test yourself: Sharing the road and winter driving in Quebec

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

Go deeper

• Quebec Highway Safety Code
• Quebec road signs in French
• Quebec winter tire law