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Transit Safety Tips:

• Dress appropriately before heading out. Service delays can be
  expected in poor weather conditions.
• Make sure your hat and scarf don't limit your vision or hearing.
• Wear bright clothing so that you can be seen by the bus driver.
• Ensure the bus has completely stopped before you approach. 
• Ice and snow can be serious slipping hazards around buses.
  Wear shoes or boots that provide good traction.
• Many serious pedestrian collisions occur while people are
  running to catch the bus. Cross only at a crosswalk or signalized
  intersection.

 

 

Driving in winter weather – snow, ice, wet and cold – creates a challenge for vehicles and
drivers.

 

Keeping your vehicle in good repair reduces your chances of a collision while driving,
and it helps to prepare your car for driving during bad weather conditions. 

 

Here are some tips to help you stay safe during the winter months:

 

 

 

 

Install Winter Tires:

• Winter tires are made with softer compound and unique
  design to provides better traction and handling during frost,
  snow, slush and ice.
• The tread pattern in a winter tire is also designed to maintain
  more contact with the pavement in adverse conditions.
• Make sure your tires are properly inflated.  Under-inflation or
  over-inflation can reduce the gripping action of tires.
• It is important that all four tires have adequate tread.

 

 

Winter Maintenance Check-up:

• Check windshield wiper blades to make sure they work properly
  and that the windshield wiper fluid reservoir is always full.
• Have your mechanic test the anti-freeze/coolant to provide
  the correct level of protection for your vehicle.

 

See and be seen:

• Remove snow and ice from all vehicle windows, lights,
  turn signals and top of vehicle.
• Buckle up.
• Turn on your headlights.
• Turn off cruise control. The only way to stop wheel-spin and
  maintain control of a skidding vehicle is to reduce power
  immediately. Disengaging cruise control will take too much time. 

Plan your route:

• Share your travel plans so others.
• Leave yourself enough time to reach your destination safely.
• Accelerate, brake and steer smoothly and gradually – avoid quick starts,
  stops and fast turns.
• Go slowly! It takes four times the distance to stop at 50 km/h as it
  does at 25 km/h.
• Maintain a safe following distance.
• Beware of BLACK ICE! Curves, intersections, off-ramps, bridges
  and shady areas are common areas for black ice.
• Don't overestimate the abilities of your vehicle!  4-wheel drive
  vehicles stop and turn the same as 2-wheel drive vehicles.

 

 

What to keep in your vehicle:

Ice scraper/snowbrush	Shovel	Sand or other traction aid
Tow rope	Booster Cables	Road flares
Gas Line antifreeze	First Aid Supplies	Flashlight and batteries
Extra clothing and footwear	Blanket	Non-perishable foods
Candle and a small tin can	Matches

 

What to do if you skid:

• Look where you want your vehicle to go and steer your
  vehicle in this direction.
• DO NOT BRAKE!
• DO NOT ACCELERATE!
• Stop the driving force on the wheels by:
  • Shifting to neutral in automatic transmission vehicles.
  • Declutching in standards transmission vehicles.

What you should do if a collison occurs:

• Click on the Collision Reporting Centre link for information
  about when a driver should report a motor vehicle collision
  at a centre and what steps need to be taken when a collision
  occurs.

 

Snow Plows:

• Drive a safe distance behind the plow. You may see them, but
  they may not see you if you are following too closely.
• Only pass snow removal vehicles when a safe passing areas is
  available, that is clear of snow and treated with salt and sand.
• Do not pass on the right.
• Watch for the plow and blade when passing snow plows. They
  may be obscured by snow and cleared debris.
• Don't travel beside a snow plow. They can shift sideways after
  hitting snow packs or drifts.
• When approaching an oncoming snow plow, reduce speed
  and move to the right side of the road if safe to do so.
• Plows cannot stop quickly. Do not pass too closely in front.
• Plows can create temporary white-out conditions with swirling
  snow. Safely pull to the side or slow down in these conditions.