Winter's Almost Here

Driving in Canada means that we are sometimes driving in the worst conditions imaginable... especially in the winter months. During winter, Mother Nature throws a variety of collision-causing conditions at us – icy roads, piles of vision-impairing snow banks, and whiteouts. With winter on its way, it's a good time to pause and remind ourselves how to drive in these conditions rather than wait for that first snowfall and crunch of a collision to jog our memory!

Be prepared. Pack the appropriate gear in your car (like survival gear for longer trips and salt or sand plus a shovel for in the city). If you never need it, great. But the one time you do need it will make it worthwhile.

Don't let a lack of snow fool you. In my early driving days, I drove cautiously when there was snow but less cautiously when there wasn't. Until I discovered that the late fall/early winter dew covering the roads can freeze a street into a skating rink. There may not have been snow but there wasn't any traction, either!

Winter driving requires extra time. Plan to leave an extra 15 or 20 minutes early whenever you drive. You'll need a couple of minutes to brush the snow off the car and the roads will require a little extra care when navigating.

Be extra careful at intersections. Intersections are extremely dangerous in the winter! Leading up to the intersection, the roads become polished from constant braking so they can be extra slippery. As well, snow banks can block your vision… and they can keep other drivers from seeing the stop sign! Brake early when approaching an intersection, assume that other drivers aren't going to be able to stop on time, and edge out slowly when snow banks keep you from seeing clearly around corners.

Remember that it is slippery out! This might be a "no brainer" to you, but even the most careful drivers need to remember that other drivers are less careful. Therefore, even if you are making sure you've given enough space between you and the car in front of you, make sure that you have an escape route just in case the car behind you seems to be slipping out of control.

Watch out for the hidden danger. One of the most underrated dangers on winter roads is the light… or lack thereof. In the winter, it gets light very late in the morning and it gets dark much earlier in the evening. Those dawn/dusk hours are hard to drive in because our eyeballs cannot keep pace with the changing light fast enough. On the other hand, driving during the day can be absolutely dazzling when the sun glints off the snow.
Driving in the winter can be difficult even at the best of times. But if you are prepared and cautious, you can navigate our Canadian winter roads safely.

If a collision does occur, remember to be extra cautious! Other drivers who might drive around the crash site could slip and slide themselves.

And, if you find yourself in a collision, bring your car to Boyd Autobody & Glass. We're the Canadian car repair experts. We know how important it is to get your car repaired and back on the winter roads quickly and safely.

Winter is approaching – are you ready?

We've enjoyed a beautiful summer here in Canada, and the fall has been pretty good as well. But it won't be long before the first few flakes of snow start to fall and we find ourselves in a winter wonderland. Are you ready for winter?

Make sure your car is ready for winter: You'll need to check your tires so that you're running (at least) all-season tires. Make sure your washer-fluid can handle our bitterly cold temperatures. You'll definitely want a brush and ice scraper, and you'll probably want something to help you dig out if an unexpected blizzard comes up. Don't forget the plug-in for the block heater!

But that's not the only thing you'll need to get ready. Are YOU ready to face winter? Are you ready to drive safely through the ice and sleet and snow? Here are some winter driving tips to keep in mind:

• Slow down. Yes, we write this a lot… but we're serious about it. Drive slower than you do in the summer. Give yourself plenty of time to get where you need to go.
• Brush off the car before you get in. Scrape the windows in their entirety. Don't forget to brush off your brake lights and your front and back signal lights.
• When snow drifts banks build up on the side of the road, edge out carefully and slowly.
• Don't follow too closely because stopping distance is very, very long (and particularly icy near intersections).
• Remember that snow and ice can hinder your ability to steer. You may desire to steer in one direction but momentum and ice will take you in another direction.
• Refresh your skills to handle what happens when you skid on the ice.
• Let your car warm up a little before you start to drive, just to make sure that it is responsive to you (in case you need to steer defensively).
• Don't drive in bad weather. If the weather gets bad, stay off the roads. (Remember: YOU might be the best driver out there but there are millions of others who aren't… and they can all skid into your car).
• If your car is starting to frost up, pull over and let it defrost before you keep driving.
• Keep an eye out for animals. Just because some of them are hibernating doesn't mean that they all are.
• People are harder to see in the winter (they might leap out from behind a snow bank, for example) and when they are all bound up with toques and scarves, they might not hear your car approaching.

The message here shouldn't be a surprise – Be Cautious! Drive carefully and watchfully and sensibly.
If you get into a collision this winter, get your car over to one of our auto body repair centres. We'll take good care of your car and get it fixed up and back to you in no time at all.

Safe driving means knowing your options

You're driving down the street toward an intersection. The light turns yellow. You are going at a speed where you could go right through but the car in front of you gets spooked and slams on their brakes. What do you do?

There are a lot of options in this scenario and most people would automatically choose to lock up their brakes and hope for the best. Sometimes that solution works out and sometimes it results in a collision.

But there are probably other options. For example, perhaps there is another lane to steer into (such as a turning lane) to give yourself more distance to stop. Or maybe steering toward the curb is a better option, especially if there is a parking lane. Or maybe given the choice between hitting a car with people in it and a car without people in it, you choose the one that will potentially cause less injury.

Obviously, in the split second you have to decide these options, it's hard to weigh all of the factors and conclude on the best course of action, which is why most people just slam on their brakes and hope for the best. But there might be a better course of action and all it takes is just a little forethought.

As you drive, anticipate the actions of other drivers and decide what you would do in those situations. Ask yourself, "what would happen if the car in front of me stopped suddenly?" or "what would I do if a child ran out in front of my car?"

For every situation, try to come up with two to four contingencies and weigh the consequences of each one – Who could be hurt? What would the ramifications be?

These might sound like morbid thoughts but here's what's going on inside your brain when you ask yourself these questions: You are training yourself to consider the contingencies. You are examining the theoretical possibilities and determining the best course of action.

Safe driving isn't the only place where this kind of theoretical contingency-planning happens. Our suggestion was inspired by "the case study method" of learning, which is a type of study used by the best business schools to teach their students how to apply concepts in real world situations.

So apply the case study method to your driving and train yourself to identify contingencies as you drive.
This won't eliminate every potential collision – some collisions are unavoidable even if you are in complete control of your vehicle – but you'll be surprised at how much more of a safer driver you'll become as you become aware of the road around you.

If you do get into a collision, bring your car to Boyd Autobody & Glass. Our conveniently located repair centres are staffed with friendly collision repair experts who can help to restore your car and get you on your way.