Your first winter behind the wheel changes how you drive. Everything takes longer: stopping, turning, even seeing. The good news is that most winter driving comes down to a few habits.
Start with the tires
Winter tires make the biggest single difference. Ontario says they can shorten braking distances by as much as 25%. The Driver’s Handbook recommends four winter or all-weather tires with the same tread pattern, rather than a pair.
Tip
Ask about the discount
Ontario requires every auto insurer to offer a discount for winter tires on private passenger policies, a rule in place since January 1, 2016. The amount varies, so ask your insurer.
Before you pull away
- Clear every window, mirror and light. A peephole in the windshield isn’t enough.
- Brush the snow off the roof too, so it doesn’t slide down over your windshield the first time you brake.
- Give yourself extra time. Rushing is when winter mistakes happen.
On the road
- Slow down, and make every movement gentle: steering, braking and speeding up.
- Leave far more than two seconds behind the car ahead. Two seconds is for dry, ideal roads.
- Don’t use cruise control in snow or bad weather.
- Expect ice first on bridges, overpasses and shaded spots. Asphalt that looks shiny and black may be black ice.
Want winter lessons before your first snowfall? Call or text Mrs. Akbar.
If the car starts to slide
Look and steer where you want the car to go, not at what you’re afraid of hitting. Ease off the gas. If your car has anti-lock brakes and you need to stop, press the brake firmly and keep pressure on; the pulsing you feel is the system working.
Hamilton in winter
The escarpment is the big one. The Mountain accesses are steep and some are shaded, so they can be icy when the rest of the city is just wet. Take them slowly, leave lots of room, and avoid stopping on the hill if you can. The Mountain accesses guide covers each one.
The Linc and the Red Hill Valley Parkway have plenty of bridges and overpasses, which freeze before the road around them.
Road tests in winter
DriveTest runs road tests in any weather unless it tells you otherwise. In extreme weather, check the service disruptions page on drivetest.ca before you leave. If your test is in winter, make sure the car’s wipers and defroster work, because the examiner checks them when the weather calls for it.
Sources
Quick answers
Do Ontario insurers give a discount for winter tires?
Yes. Every Ontario auto insurer must offer one for private passenger policies issued or renewed since January 1, 2016. The amount varies by insurer.
Do road tests get cancelled for snow?
Road tests go ahead in any weather unless DriveTest tells you otherwise. Check DriveTest’s service disruptions page in extreme weather.
Where does ice form first?
On bridges, overpasses and shaded parts of the road. Shiny black pavement can be black ice.
put it into practice
Get some winter practice in
A lesson or two in winter conditions takes a lot of the fear out of the first snowfall.
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