Learning when to stay home
Besides the right tires and wipers, you need the right attitude
Those snowflakes we had exactly one week ago today reminded everybody that winter’s coming and we’d better be ready. We all remember last winter’s impact on driving in the GTA — well, we’d better remember — and if it taught us anything, it’s that too many drivers were unprepared.
Sure, there’s not a lot — if anything — you can do to prevent trees and power lines crashing down on the road because of an ice storm but you can make sure that you, your vehicle and most importantly, your attitude, are prepared for the worst Old Man Winter can throw at us.
First, let’s dispense with any predictions about how bad or “good” this winter will be. We get what we get and usually when we get it, we get whacked.
It’s no good complaining that the weatherman predicted less snow this year when you’re sitting in a ditch somewhere waiting for a tow truck
What we do know for a fact is that, statistically, weather-related motor-vehicle collisions cost Canadians about $1 billion a year. According to a University of Waterloo report, this is simply because they happen more frequently with more resulting damage.
Stop blaming the road conditions: Not having snow tires, efficient windshield wipers, the right washer fluid, working lights or a strong battery can get you into trouble just as quickly as losing control on black ice.
It’s also about driver attitude. Without adjustments to winter driving demands, there will ultimately be problems, says Brian Patterson, president and CEO of the Ontario Safety League.
“You have to slow down, allow more space between vehicles, because your reaction time will be affected,” he said.
“It’s darker and harder to see; the road can be slippery. So allow more time in your travel plans and make sure your car is ready.”
More obvious, he said, is finding a mechanic you trust and ensuring your brakes and tires are winter compatible.
“Make sure they are snows, not just all-seasons,” he said. “There’s a big difference.”
If you’re going to be taking rural roads, packing a winter survival kit is always a good idea, Patterson notes, because you could become stranded. Include good snow brushes, a shovel, a good windshield scraper, flashlight and batteries, perhaps water and some snacks, hats, gloves and scarves. Booster cables, some road salt or sand, a first-aid kit with a pocket knife is a good idea as are emergency flares and a tow rope or chain.
Having a cellphone is a smart idea but make sure it’s charged and that you have a compatible charger in the car.
“Have two scrapers and snow brushes, one a good one and one disposable you can give to someone who is trying to clear their car with their hands,” he said. “It’s great karma. “And brush off all the snow, especially around your headlights, because the new LEDs don’t generate the heat of halogens and melt the snow away. Oh, and make sure all your lights are working.”
As to the vehicle itself, said John Cochrane of Cochrane Automotive, a CAA-approved garage in Etobicoke, there are many mistakes that drivers make in thinking they’ve prepared for any season but especially winter.
“You have to have four winter tires,” he said.
“And make sure they have the snowflake on the side wall because the rubber on winter tires is different and designed for the cold.”
There are also winter-rated wiper blades, he said, with a material designed to stay flexible in the cold.
The right engine oil is also critical but don’t just change to a thinner off-the-shelf oil because that’s what you’ve always done, he warns.
“Check your manufacturers’ specifications,” said Cochrane who has seen dramatic changes since he started as an auto technician 35 years ago. “The tolerances on today’s cars are so fine and each manufacturer can vary on their recommendations.” Changing over your tires is a good time to get the fluids checked, he added, especially the cooling system, which in turn powers your heating system. “Cooling systems can leak more in the winter,” he said, noting that getting the coolant right is important because the wrong type could cause premature failure of plastic parts.
“The No. 1 safety feature in any vehicle is the driver.” IAN LAW ILR CAR CONTROL SCHOOL INC.
“You can’t just hydrostatically test the coolant either (that’s by using a baster-like tool that checks how low a temperature the coolant can handle), because today it’s all changed. A garage will have the right tool, a refractometer.” Check the thermostat to ensure the cabin heats up promptly on start-up and change the cabin air filter to get the maximum amount of incoming warm airflow to defrost the windshield too, Cochrane advises, adding that you’d better check the front and back defrosters to ensure they’re working now before it’s a crisis. Echoing Patterson’s caution about ensuring your battery has good cranking power and hasn’t started to fade — if it’s five years old, you should replace it — Cochrane also suggests checking spark plugs because winter dampness can cause startup issues. Finally, he said, check the serpentine belt because it runs so many different components off the engine, it’s too risky to have it fail in the middle of a blizzard on a lonely side road somewhere. Back in the day, there were two or three fan belts and if one failed you might limp to get help but with the serpentine, those days are over. The last part of the preparedness equation, of course, is you and your attitude, a.k.a. the weakest link. “People often believe otherwise but things like ABS brakes, stability control or even All Wheel Drive are not the most important safety features,” said Ian Law, president and chief instructor at the ILR Car Control School Inc. whose 22 instructors teach advanced driving techniques at four locations across Ontario. “The No.1 safety feature in any vehicle is the driver. When a driver is prepared to deal with the worst roads of the year, it’s a lifesaver.” Law, who suggests all Canadian drivers should have to pass a winter driving test, said even the physical limitations imposed by gloves and parkas have an impact on reaction time and control behind the wheel.
Assuming that your car is prepared, he said, the first thing to do before venturing out is to listen to the weather report. Second, slow down once you get going because even on “dry” winter roads, salt and sand can reduce friction. All-wheel-drive or the 4X4 option usually leads to overconfidence and that’s a short trip to the ditch in bad weather because four times zero traction is still zero.
“Wear leather gloves for grip and drive in your shoes because bulky boots get caught (in the pedals),” said Law, who has raced on ice for 20 years.
“And keep it smooth on the wheel; no sudden movements. Drivers tend to over-correct and that’s not safe. Also, easy does it on the gas and the brakes. Anyone can drive fast, but smart drivers know when not to.”
Finally, said Law, discretion is sometimes the better plan.
“Smart drivers know when not to risk driving in winter because no trip is worth risking your life,” he said. “Learn to say no. You can work from home and the kids will be just fine missing a hockey game or a dance lesson.”