After a particularly wet Autumn, mother nature decided to switch it up with a flash freeze. Londoners are waking up to the city blanketed in a winter wonderland. While the beautiful white powder is a reminder for the exciting holiday coming up, it does make for very slippery conditions for both drivers and pedestrians.
Local Fanshawe College student, Brandon Erickson, is worried for students. It’s quite common for people to rush to school for class which isn’t very safe, especially in the winter months.
“People just don’t take their time. I don’t think students realize how slippery sidewalks and roads can be and this can lead to some serious accidents. For driving, it’s important to have a clear back, not only for your safety but also for the safety for those behind you. You don’t want an ice sheet to fly off your roof and hit the vehicle behind.”
It’s important for people to be prepared for the upcoming season which can bring on all sorts of different weather conditions varying from high bitter winds to icy rain to heavy snowfalls. When severe winter weather threatens, Environment Canada issues special alerts to notify Canadians in affected areas so that they can take steps to protect themselves and their property. Check out Environment Canada’s page on winter weather to get more information on weather alerts in your city. Gavin Horner is a Sergeant Detective for the Toronto Police. His main concern is the number of accidents that could take place this winter if people aren’t careful.
“We’re expecting to get a rather chilly winter and with that you can expect extreme weather changes. These harsh conditions are favourable for more hazards onto the roads. I always instruct drivers to slow down and take extra time while being on the road. We also want drivers to be compassionate towards pedestrians who are walking on the road while they wait for large piles of snow to be cleared off of sidewalks, if that happens to be the case.”
Getting snow tired plays a big role in staying safe on the road. Snow tires should be installed when the temperature drops below 7 C, as below that temperature, all-season or all-weather tires lose their grip and need more braking distance. When things are unpredictable on the road due to snow, high volumes of drivers and changing weather conditions, you’re better off safe than sorry.
