Change of seasons means a change of driving habits

Canada’s first snowfall warning of the year was issued last week. It was for the Dempster Highway in the Yukon, but you know it will soon be lashing at most of us. “ In 2017, nearly 30 per cent of collisions reported to the National Collision Database happened on wet, snowy or icy roads. One third happened in January, February, November and December,” according to the RCMP . The changeover to winter means a shift in how you drive, too. Maybe we can mitigate the annual carnage of our first snowfall by doing a little early planning.

Now is the time to order your winter tires, or haul them out of storage. Make an appointment with your tech now. While the idea is winter temperatures of 7 degrees C trigger that installation, any time now is fine. Check your insurance policy: if you’re receiving a reduction because you have winter tires, it will set dates when those tires must be installed and when they can be removed. 

If you live on a corner property, make sure your foliage isn’t blocking drivers’ sightlines. Too often drivers come right into the crosswalk because they can’t see around shrubbery. As we come into reduced light, pedestrians and cyclists absolutely need safe crossings, not cars jamming into that space. If this is a problem on public property, call your city or town. 

Those pedestrians and cyclists need your full focus to be on driving. You’re cocooned in a comfortable shelter; be cautious and kind to those who aren’t. 

Kids don’t start learning about driving at 16, they start from the moment you put them in a car. Set a good example. Stay off your phone and demonstrate that driving is not a time to be multitasking. Use walks through parking lots as a chance to teach them what reverse lights mean. Most vehicles are far too big to keep small, unseen pedestrians safe. 

Start using your full headlighting system if you don’t already. If you don’t, make sure your lighting is set to auto, or risk being a ghost car that other drivers can’t see. Talk to other drivers in your house about the importance of having rear lights on; a little education goes a long way.

Do a walk around your car when it’s running. Check that you have no burned-out bulbs. If you back up against a garage door or a wall, you can check your brake lights by yourself.

As the days get shorter, be wary of your eyes playing tricks on you. Wet pavement creates glare. If you haven’t in a while, get your eyes checked, especially as you get older. Opt for the anti-glare coating on glasses, but if your eyesight is compromised in these conditions, elect not to drive. It’s just too dangerous if you can’t see properly.

Clean your vehicle. While it’s still warm enough to get the vacuum out, clear out summer. Replace the spare jug of windshield fluid. Armor-All makes great special wipes for your screens (good on computers, too), and they’re also good for clearing goop off the camera lenses outside your car.

Be wary in parking lots. Back-up cameras are terrific, but this time of year, the lens is often smeared with snow or ice. Backing into a parking spot is always safer, but if you don’t, drop your windows a little as you back up so you can hear what’s going on around you. 

If you haven’t done it in a while (I do it annually), your wiper blades probably need replacing. Just like your tires are your only connection to the road, a clear windshield is your visual connection. Wiper blades deteriorate over time; they’re pliable compounds like your tires are. If you’ve been chipping ice off them, you’ve been leaving tiny tears. UV rays degrade them. Good blades should leave a perfect view, and not chatter. If you have a kid commuting to school, replace their blades, too.

Have a good app, like Waze , on your phone. As increasingly dark days and inclement weather set in, there will be an increase in crashes. A good navigation app will help you safely work around them allowing you to focus on the road. Make sure your phone is in a proper clip, not just tossed in a cup holder. That’ll save you a ticket.

Every part of Canada and most of the U.S. has a “move over” law. If you’re approaching emergency vehicles, you must slow down and move over to clear a lane for their safety. The fines are steep, but the threat to first responders — fire, police, paramedics, tow drivers — is real. 

As this pandemic drags on, little ones have been snatched in and out of their schools with little notice. Keep an eye out for them, obey crossing guards, and don’t speed in school zones. Kiddoes can be unpredictable; make up for that by being cautious. While you should know not to pass a school bus with its red lights flashing, remember that more and more jurisdictions are putting cameras on that dropped arm. They will charge you later.

Check that you have a roadside assistance program. A membership comes with most new cars, but it runs out and because you haven’t used it, you might forget. 

If you’re getting a vacation in, give yourself time to get familiar with your rental vehicle. It’s tempting to stumble off a plane and just get going, but an unfamiliar vehicle in unfamiliar surroundings is a bad combination.