A pre-winter vehicle check is a necessity
Meanwhile, Operation Red Nose is keeping you safe for the holidays!
Regina, SK (Nov. 6, 2018) — In Saskatchewan, it is possible that you could be operating your vehicle for at least five months of the year in winter driving conditions. It is in this period, from November to March, that most collisions occur.
The main cause of collisions in winter months is failing to adjust to the changing conditions. Snow, ice and freezing rain reduce traction. Drifting and blowing snow, fog, whiteouts, gas exhaust clouds and frosted windows may severely limit visibility.
SGI offers these winter driving tips to Canadian drivers across the country:
Winter Driving Tips
- Be sure to wipe loose snow off the hood of your vehicle so that it doesn’t blow onto your windshield and obstruct your vision while you drive.
- Ensure that your headlights, taillights and licence plates are visible, and that your windows are completely defrosted before you hit the road.
- Leave a little earlier to give yourself more time to reach your destination, so you don’t feel tempted to drive too fast for road conditions.
- Start your trip slowly, testing your braking and steering to ‘get a feel’ for the road.
- Once you’ve reached a level of comfort, you can gradually increase your speed. The key is to maintain control of your vehicle at all times, even if that means driving under the posted speed limit.
- Stay alert as you approach intersections. Scan the road for traction, such as sand or bare pavement, and always accelerate and decelerate gradually.
- If you do find your vehicle skidding, remain calm and take your foot off the accelerator. Don’t lock the brakes. Instead, brake steadily, look where you want to go and steer in that direction.
- Try to avoid using cruise control on the highway during the winter. Icy sections on otherwise dry surfaces can cause your wheels to spin, compromising your control of the vehicle and putting you at risk of a collision.
- Leave at least a four-second following distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. If the driver ahead of you suddenly brakes, you’ll have the time and space needed to stop safely, ensuring that you and everyone on the road arrives at their destination safely.
- Keep an emergency kit in your car. The kit can include warm clothes, a shovel, blankets, a snow brush, ice scraper, booster cables, flashlight, flares, matches, a candle and a tin cup (to melt snow for water) and food like chocolate, granola bars, dried fruit, nuts or soup mixes that can be added to water.
- Consider investing in a set of winter tires, which provide improved traction on winter road surfaces.
For more information, visit the Winter Driving section of the SGI Drivers Handbook.
About SGI CANADA
Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is the province’s self-sustaining auto insurance fund. SGI operates 21 claims centres and five salvage centres across Saskatchewan with a head office in Regina. SGI also works with a network of nearly 400 motor licence issuers across the province. Customers can now do some transactions online. For more information, visit www.sgicanada.ca.
Source: SGI CANADA
Tags: SGI
