The Middlesex County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is reminding motorists to take the time to prepare themselves and their vehicles for safe winter driving, as we head into the winter months.
Defensive, responsible driving is crucial to reducing fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways, especially during the winter months.
Remember:
– Plan ahead – check and monitor current road conditions before heading out, and allow extra time for traveling when weather and road conditions warrant it
– Check the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) website for road conditions prior to heading out; do not call 9-1-1 or the OPP to obtain road reports
– Slow down, and adjust your driving to the current road and weather conditions
– Leave extra space – stopping distances are more than double on snow or ice- covered roads
– Stay alert, focus on the road, and avoid sudden braking, accelerating, or steering
– Make sure that your vehicle has proper winter tires; when compared to regular or all-season tires tests have proven that snow tires provide better traction, control, and reduced stopping distances, on snow covered or icy roads
– Make your vehicle more visible in poor weather conditions by keeping your full lighting system on at all times
– Always keep an ice scraper in the vehicle to keep windows, signals, and lights clear
– Make sure your wiper blades are in good working order, keep the windshield wiper fluid topped up, and keep an extra container of fluid in your vehicle
– Keep the gas tank at least half-full so that you do not run out of gas if you become stranded, and to prevent condensation from forming in the gas tank
– Keep a fully-stocked emergency kit in the vehicle
– Know where you are in case you require help in an emergency; if you do not know your location, it delays the arrival of emergency responders
