The holiday season is finally here! It’s a time for family gatherings, festive parties, and the joy of gift-giving. But for many of us, it also means navigating busy roads, unpredictable winter weather, and long drives to visit loved ones.
At Sun Driving Academy, we want your holiday memories to be happy ones. To ensure you and your passengers arrive safely, we’ve put together this essential guide to winter holiday driving.https://sundrivingacademy.ca/
. Prepare Your “Sleigh” (Vehicle Maintenance)
Before you pack the trunk with gifts, make sure your car is up to the task. A breakdown in freezing temperatures isn’t just inconvenient; it can be dangerous.
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Winter Tires are Key: If you haven’t switched yet, do it now. Winter tires provide significantly better traction below 7°C (45°F) than all-season tires.
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Check Your Fluids: Ensure your windshield washer fluid is rated for -30°C or lower. Top up your antifreeze and oil.
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Clear the Snow: It is vital (and often the law) to clear all snow and ice from your car—including the roof, hood, and headlights—before driving. Flying snow can blind the driver behind you.
2. The Winter Survival Kit
Even the best drivers can get stuck. Keep an emergency kit in your trunk throughout the winter season.
Sun Driving Academy Checklist:
A warm blanket and extra gloves/hats.
A small shovel and a bag of sand or kitty litter (for traction).
Jumper cables.
A flashlight with extra batteries.
Non-perishable snacks and water.https://sundrivingacademy.ca/tire-safety-maintenance-safe-driving-ontario/
3. Adjust Your Driving for Conditions
Winter roads require a different mindset. The posted speed limit is for ideal conditions. When it’s snowy or icy, you must adjust.
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Slow Down: Reduce your speed to match the road conditions.
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Increase Following Distance: On dry pavement, the rule is 3 seconds. On snow or ice, increase this to 6 to 8 seconds. You need more room to stop than you think.
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No Cruise Control: Never use cruise control on wet, snowy, or icy surfaces. You need full control of the accelerator and brakes to react to skids.
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Watch for “Black Ice”: Pavement that looks dry but appears shiny or black may actually be covered in transparent ice. Be extra cautious on bridges and overpasses, which freeze first.
4. The Holiday Factor: Distraction and Impairment
The holidays bring specific risks that go beyond the weather.
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Designate a Driver: Holiday parties often involve alcohol. There is zero excuse for impaired driving. If you plan to drink, hand over the keys, call a cab, or use a rideshare app.
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Manage Fatigue: Long drives to visit family can be exhausting. If you feel drowsy, pull over at a rest stop. Driving tired is as dangerous as driving drunk.
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Eliminate Distractions: Set your GPS and choose your music playlist before you put the car in drive. If you have rowdy passengers (or excited kids), ask a front-seat passenger to help manage them so you can focus on the road.
A Note to New Drivers
If this is your first winter behind the wheel, it’s okay to feel nervous. If the weather looks too severe, the bravest and smartest choice is often to stay home and wait for the plows.
From all of us at Sun Driving Academy, we wish you a warm, happy, and safe holiday season!https://sundrivingacademy.ca/category/blog/
