Be Prepared for Winter Roads
Laurie Bauer , CAIB | Business Development Manager , Orbit Insurance Services
When the temperature drops and the snow starts to fall , our roads become very dangerous .
Some helpful tips to stay safe during your commute are being prepared for winter roads , adapting to the roads you ’ re travelling on , and being mindful of where you ’ re driving .
Be Prepared Before You Drive
• Use winter tires . Whether there ’ s fresh snow or black ice , winter tires help with braking and driving through the winter .
• Only use windshield washer fluid for -45 C weather . All-season windshield washer fluid can freeze and make driving very dangerous . Top up before long drives .
• Remove all snow and ice from your vehicle before driving . Having a full range of vision is crucial to being safe on the road .
Have a Plan for Hazardous Conditions
• Give yourself extra time for travel .
• Be adaptive , not reactive . If there is an excessive amount of snow on the road , slow down and avoid switching lanes or passing unnecessarily .
• Keep your distance from drivers ahead of you so you have enough time to brake .
• If you skid , remain calm , release the brake , and steer slowly in a safe direction ; be mindful not to turn too hard to avoid spinning .
Be Mindful While Driving
• In areas where snowbanks could be blocking your vision , drive slowly and be patient ; there could be pedestrians you might not see or children playing in the snow .
• Focus on the road and be alert . Distracted drivers are eight times more likely to be in an accident . Put the phone down and keep your eyes on the road .
• When driving behind snowplows , stay back , do not pass , and be patient . Let the snowplows make the roads safer for everyone .
In Case of Accident …
• Have a medical kit on hand to give you peace of mind when driving long distances .
• Keep your phone charged in case you need to call for help in an emergency .
• If needed , this QR (" scan me ") will take you to some helpful guidelines for what to do after a collision .
• If you need to make a claim , contact an Orbit insurance broker . We ’ re here to help !
WINTER 2024 | 57