Winter driving road-safety awareness

Getting ready for winter driving

When driving in winter, there are some key points you need to remember:

Cruise control does not adjust for road conditions and should not be used in winter driving conditions.
A safe following distance in summer is about 3 to 4 seconds; in winter it’s more than double, 8 to 10 seconds. Allow yourself extra time to start and stop.
Remove all snow from your vehicle before you drive.
In winter, it’s best to be ready for anything. Always travel with a winter survival kit.

Illustration reminding drivers to remove all ice and snow from their vehicle before driving. A snow-covered vehicle is shown beside an arctic fox holding a snow brush.

Remove all snow from your windows, front and rear lights, and all other surfaces, like your roof and hood, before you drive.

Tips for a safe trip

Winter driving can be risky. When you go on a long trip in the winter, make sure you check weather and road conditions. Pack extra gear and take precautions to keep yourself and your passengers safe:

Make sure everyone is buckled up for safety.
Remember: snow plows and equipment always have the right of way.
Maintain a safe following distance.
AWD and 4WD do not help you stop on snow and ice.
Tell someone your travel plans and estimated time of travel.

You may want to consider bringing:

extra fuel; and
a satellite phone or CB radio.

Illustration reminding drivers that posted speed limits apply to ideal conditions and that speeds should be reduced when winter weather affects road conditions.

Speed limits are set for ideal road conditions. That means dry roads, normal-to-light traffic and bright daytime light. Change any one of these conditions and the recommended speed changes too.

A well-prepared emergency kit

Every vehicle should have a winter driving emergency kit. Suggested items for your emergency kit include:

a shovel, an ice scraper and a snow brush;
sand, kitty litter, traction mats, tire chains and a tow strap;
a spare tire, a tire jack, a tire iron, an air compressor and a tire gauge;
a flashlight (battery-free), a warning light, glow sticks and reflective safety triangles or road flares;
extra winter clothes gear, a toque, socks, gloves, footwear, and hand and foot warmers;
emergency non-perishable food snacks and water bottles;
booster cables, a small tool kit with a screw driver, pliers and multi-tool;
extra windshield washer fluid;
lock de-icer, and fuel line and engine antifreeze;
road maps, a compass and a whistle;
a fire extinguisher, a first-aid kit, Band-Aids and antiseptic wipes;
a heat source (matches, lighters, candles), a fire-starter kit and wood;
a sleeping bag, a blanket (special "survival" blankets are best); and
duct tape, cable ties and bungee cords.

For electric vehicle owners, remember to bring any chargers and adapters you need for your vehicle.

Watch Transport Canada’s winter driving emergency kit video

Illustration encouraging drivers to use winter-rated tires for improved traction in winter driving conditions.

Tires that are not rated for winter driving harden in freezing temperatures. To increase your traction and to improve your ability to stop, get winter-rated tires. Look for the mountain snowflake symbol to know you’ve got a winter-rated tire.

Driving near snow plows

Always give equipment space to work

Stay back from working snowplows and other winter maintenance vehicles with flashing blue and orange lights. You’ll see them on highways before, during and after a snowfall or storm.

Never pass a working snow plow on the right

Passing a working snow plow on the right is very dangerous for you and the plow driver. When a snow plow is out clearing roads, snow, ice and rocks are thrown to the right.

When passing a snow plow, always make sure there's room to pass safely, on the left, and merge back into your lane, leaving extra space between you and the snow plow. Sight lines and visibility can be significantly reduced by blowing snow and the ridge of snow that the plow creates.

Be patient

It takes time to clear the roads after a snowfall. Whether they're in your lane or on the centre line, heavy equipment always has the right of way when they're working. A snow plow’s job is to clear snow from the roadway. Your job is to stay clear from the plow.

Do not crowd

Drivers of heavy equipment have large side mirrors. They also have large blind spots. Stay back far enough to see their side-view mirrors. This increases your field of vision and it makes you more visible to the driver of the heavy equipment. Do not pass unless it's safe to do so.

Illustration of a snowplow clearing snow from a highway, reminding drivers to give winter maintenance vehicles space to work safely.

Snow plows do important work to help keep our roads clear in winter. They need lots of room to do their work safely. Give them space – about five car lengths

Additional information

Illustration showing a grader clearing snow while a vehicle attempts to pass on the right, with a symbol indicating this is unsafe. Drivers should never pass snowplows or graders on the right.

Plows and graders are designed to throw slush, rocks and snow to the right of their vehicles. Only pass on the left once they’ve indicated it's safe.

For more information about driving in winter visit: Transport Canada winter driving tips

Road conditions

Always check road and weather conditions before travelling.

511 Yukon

Illustration comparing stopping distances in winter conditions. A vehicle with winter tires stops sooner at a red light, while a vehicle with summer tires requires a longer stopping distance.

It takes longer to stop in winter, so if you brake in winter like you do in summer, you’re braking too late. Leave more distance than normal between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.