"Even a small increase in speed can affect your ability to stop," said Shauna Crognali, Road Safety Issues Specialist with Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI). "Add an icy or slushy patch like we're seeing these days and a situation that might be avoidable on dry roads could be disastrous."

In fact, Crognali says that simply increasing your speed from 50 to 60 kilometres per hour increases your stopping distance by 10.33 metres (that's over 30 feet) - under ideal conditions.

MPI and the Winnipeg Police Service are reminding drivers not to let the warmer weather lull them into driving as though it's summer.

While warmer weather can give the impression that the season of slick and treacherous winter driving is a thing of the past, the spring freeze thaw cycle can lead to unpredictable and hazardous road conditions. MPI and Winnipeg Police are reminding drivers to slow down when conditions are poor and to keep an eye out for changeable conditions even on the same stretch of road.

"There are two kinds of speeding," said Crognali. "The one most of us think of is going over the speed limit. But the other can be just as dangerous - and that's going too fast for the road conditions.

Drivers need to remember that speed limits aren't targets, they are maximums under ideal road conditions. When road conditions are less than ideal, they need to slow down." According to Winnipeg Police, unsafe speed was determined to be a factor in 25 per cent of fatal crashes in Winnipeg during the last two years.

A few fast facts on speed

• Ice on roads at -1 C is twice as slippery as ice at -18 C, so pay special attention in spring and fall.
• Watch for shaded spots, bridges, overpasses and intersections where ice is likely to form first or be most slippery.
• Speed limits are not goals, they are maximums under ideal conditions. SLOW DOWN when conditions are poor.
• Increasing your speed from 50 to 60 km/h increases your stopping distance by 10.33 meters (about 34 feet).
• Increasing your speed from 100 to 110 km/h increases your stopping distance by 15.95 meters (or about 52 feet).
• Maintain a RoadWise distance of about six seconds between you and the vehicle ahead of you when the road is slippery.
• REMEMBER: You are the best safety feature your vehicle has. The ability to control your vehicle on the road could save a life - it could be yours!