Unlike sleet and snow, freezing rain instantly creates a slick glaze of black ice once it hits the ground. This makes driving in freezing rain incredibly dangerous.
If you plan on driving in Canada in the winter, make sure you’re prepared for freezing rain. Read on to learn 12 tips that could help you drive safely.
1. Plan Ahead
Before you get in the car, check the local weather report. Consider the time of day you’re heading out too. Remember that black ice tends to form in the early morning and at night. It’s harder to drive safely at night and in freezing rain, so the chances of getting into an accident in these conditions are much higher. Understand the risks involved and only drive out if it’s absolutely necessary.
If you can’t postpone your trip, stick to the main roads. Your town or city will plow and salt main thoroughfares before back roads and side streets, so staying on main routes will help you avoid driving on dangerous surfaces.
The Canadian Red Cross recommends keeping your gas tank at least half-full throughout winter. And before every trip, don’t forget to charge your mobile devices and bring a charging cable.
2. Prepare a Winter Safety Kit
An emergency winter kit should have everything you need to get your car out of the snow, survive emergencies, and keep yourself safe and warm on the road. It should contain the following essentials:
- Small shovel
- Ice scraper
- Flashlight
- Flares
- Roadside signalling equipment
- Jumper cables to boost car batteries
- Tire gauge
- Tire chains
- Inflated spare tire
- Tire changing tools
- Tool kit
- Windshield wiper and wiper fluid
- Medical kit
- Food and water
- Paper towels
- Trash bags
- A change of clothes, plus socks, gloves, and headgear
- Water-resistant boots
- A warm blanket
- A tarpaulin
For more tips on preparing for winter driving, check out this guide.
3. Use Winter Tires
Unlike all-season tires, winter and snow tires are made to perform even in the harshest winter conditions. They’re designed with flexible and grippy tread rubber, unique tread patterns, and biting edges that, when combined, provide enough traction to work properly even on slippery ice.
When switching your all-season tires out for winter tires, make sure to install a full set. It may seem practical to just change the front tires, but this can increase the chances of your rear tires skidding. On the other hand, replacing your rear tires could make your front tires lose traction and make it difficult to steer.
4. Make Sure You Can See and Be Seen on the Road
Transport Canada advises drivers to remove all the snow from their vehicle before driving off, including snow on the hood, window, roof, and lights. Make sure windows are clear of frost and fog too. This will ensure you have better visibility as you drive and prevent snow from piling onto your windshield or other cars on the road.
To make your car more visible in a downpour, turn your headlights on. Do not drive with your hazard lights flashing. This eliminates the turn signal function and makes it harder for other drivers to see who’s braking, making driving in the rain even harder than it already is.
If driving becomes too difficult, find a safe place to pull off the road, like a gas station or a rest stop, and wait for the rain to die down.
5. Avoid Passing Snowplows
Never pass a snowplow, no matter how much of a hurry you’re in. Not only is it dangerous but it can gain you a careless driving ticket too.
Passing between or around a snowplow is extremely dangerous — both for you and the plow operator — because blowing snow and the ridge of snow created by the plow reduce visibility significantly.
6. Adjust Your Driving Habits
In harsh weather, it’s important to drive slowly and carefully. Poor visibility and unexpected obstacles can make others drive erratically, so you’ll want to keep your composure and drive slowly to give yourself more time to react.
If you need to make a quick stop, resist the urge to slam on your brakes. Pump the brakes instead. This will help prevent sliding on slippery road ice.
Most modern, automatic transmission cars have an anti-lock braking system (ABS), which pumps the brakes for you in slippery conditions and stops you from skidding. If you’re driving a manual car, however, you can downshift through the gears to slow down instead of pressing on your brakes.
7. Maintain a Safe Distance
It takes longer to stop on a slippery road, so always remember to put more distance than normal between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. And don’t just pay attention to what’s directly in front of you. Observe what’s going on as far ahead as possible so you can anticipate when to stop.
8. Learn How to Regain Control of Your Vehicle in a Skid
Sometimes, no matter how carefully you drive, you can find your vehicle skidding unexpectedly. It’s a scary situation that can land you in a bad accident — especially if you don’t know how to regain control of your vehicle. Here’s what to do in the event of a skid:
9. Be Extra Cautious in Risky Situations
Hills are a major danger zone when there’s black ice on the roads. When going downhill, go slowly and leave plenty of space between your car and the vehicle in front of you. Aim for at least three car lengths. This will give you enough time to slow down or stop. When going uphill, make sure you have enough momentum before going up the hill, then go at a steady pace. Avoid stopping but do not hit the gas too hard either.
Bridges, on the other hand, are usually the first to freeze and the last to thaw. This is because cold air can reach above and below bridges. As such, always slow down when approaching a bridge in near-freezing temperatures. Keep a greater distance between you and other vehicles and avoid braking, accelerating, and changing lanes. Just stay at a consistent and slow speed until you’re off the bridge.
10. Avoid Using Cruise Control
Cruise control may not react fast enough to changes in the road. So, when the weather is bad, drive manually and avoid using cruise control. This will give you more control of the vehicle, let you react when you need to, and help you avoid spinning out.
11. Be Patient
If you find yourself unexpectedly stuck in a storm while driving, keep calm and try to be patient. Don’t stress about arriving at your destination late, especially for non-emergencies.
12. Use Alternative Transport Options
One way to avoid car accidents in the winter altogether is by finding other means of getting around. If you live in a major city, chances are you have plenty of public transportation options, like the bus or train. You can also carpool, rideshare, or even try cycling and walking to nearby destinations.
Key Advice From My Choice
- Make sure your car insurance policy is up-to-date and covers incidents related to winter driving, especially in areas prone to freezing rain like Nova Scotia or northern Ontario.
- When considering heading out in bad weather, the question you should be asking isn’t “Can you drive in freezing rain?” but “Should you drive”. Stay at home as much as possible.
- When you must drive in extreme cold weather, it’s always a good idea to inform someone that you’re making a trip. Let them know where you’re going and when you’re expected to arrive. That way, if you don’t arrive, they can seek help.