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Drive Smart, Drive Safe

By Submitted Article

Monday, November 17, 2008 03:46 AM

by  MaryAnne Arcand , 

Director, Forestry TruckSafe Program & Northern Initiatives                         

     
Over the past two weeks we’ve seen a couple of snowfalls that have resulted in numerous crashes, injuries and fatalities.
 
For crying out loud, we live in the north, it is November, and yet some people are still not with it, and don’t have their snow tires on, or their winter driving habits in their heads.
 
Winter weather places extra demands on you, your driving skills and your vehicle’s performance. You can handle changing road and weather conditions by anticipating and preparing for them.
RCMP are fining motorists for not having snow tires, and driving too fast for conditions, with 6 points and a hefty fine for “driving without due care and attention “.
 
Here are a few tips to help you avoid crashes this winter-
 

INCREASE YOUR FOLLOWING DISTANCE

It takes much longer to stop on a slippery road. Increase your usual following distance by up to six times on icy
surfaces.
 

SLOW DOWN

Decrease your speed when you’re unsure of the road condition and/or visibility is poor. Your slower speed gives you more time to correctly react
to road hazards or emergency situations.
 

SEE AND BE SEEN

Drive with headlights on at all times. Clean your windows and exterior lights often. In a snowfall, use low beams.
 

BRAKING

Apply the brakes gradually and gently—pressing the brakes to the point just before they lock up. If they start to lock up you will lose steering control.
Ease up slightly on the brakes—don’t pump them.
 

STEERING OUT OF A SKID

If you start to skid, take your foot off the accelerator. Don’t brake. Look and gently steer the vehicle in the direction you want to go. When you feel the vehicle regaining traction, straighten the wheels.

 IF YOU GET STUCK

Clear away snow from around the tires and spread sand or rock salt for traction. Gently rock the vehicle back and forth, shifting quickly from forward to reverse, gradually increasing the distance traveled with each rock.
Check your vehicle owner’s manual before rocking the vehicle.
 

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Posted on Monday, November 17, 2008 03:46 AM in Life by Submitted Article

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Comments

Comment Posted by: Bridge on November 17 2008 9:48 AM
Lets hope all the whiners on free for all read the above. You are the one thats driving your vehicle its not the next guy.
Cheers
Comment Posted by: metalman on November 17 2008 10:02 AM
All very good safety tips, is there an effective way to get the advice out to the idiots? How about making it tougher to earn the right to have a drivers license?
We should all have to pass a more rigourous test in my opinion. Oh and the advice on shifting from F to R and back again should help drum up some business for the auto trans shops too, from those who keep the loud pedal mashed to the floor as they shift back and forth.
metalman.