The Manitoba Driver > The first snow is coming: are you ready?

The Manitoba Driver, from Manitoba Public Insurance
November 2007

371 words
The first snowfall is coming: are you ready?

The short memory of the Manitoba motorist often spells trouble at this time of year when the first snowfall throws a pop quiz about winter driving.

And unfortunately, many people fail that test and wind up in a fender bender or something far worse. Some 85 per cent of winter driving fatalities occur on rural roads and 85 per cent of winter driving injuries occur on urban roads.

“People are creatures of continuity and consistency and so they’re always surprised when they get up one morning and the ground is covered in snow,” says Lou Gervino, manager of Driver Education for Manitoba Public Insurance. “But with a little preparation, motorists can be confident that they can handle most of what Mother Nature throws at them.”

Time, Gervino says, is the most important factor to keep in mind when making the transition to winter driving. In icy winter conditions, it takes longer for vehicles to stop, longer for them to accelerate, and generally longer to get them from Point A to Point B.

“We have to change to ‘Snow Standard’ time,” Gervino says. “We have to get up 10 to 15 minutes earlier because our normal routines are just going to take longer. Leave yourself enough time to scrape ice and snow off your vehicle, and enough time to get to work. Expect delays.”

Needless to say, it’s also important to winterize your vehicle, paying special attention to the tires. (See related article in this issue of The Manitoba Driver, ‘The first snowfall is coming: is your vehicle ready?’)

Aside from the inherent dangers of slippery roads, falling snow also reduces visibility. Allow for more following distance and also make sure you’ve got the wiper blades and washer fluid to keep your windshield clean.

“Avoid sudden directional changes,” Gervino cautions. “People in four-wheel-drive SUVs sometimes get lulled into a false sense of complacency and think they can continue to drive like it’s July. Not so. You might accelerate fairly well, but all bets are off on stopping.”

When starting out, try slowly testing the conditions to see what braking and steering is like. After all, winter driving is going to be around for several months. The safest and most sensible strategy is to ease into it.

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