Hastings and Prince Edward Counties, ON/February 2nd, 2016 – With the ever-changing weather conditions this winter, the Quinte Region Traffic Coalition is urging drivers to be prepared for the unexpected. “Many winter collisions happen because drivers are simply going too fast for the conditions,” says Constable Scott Preston of the Stirling-Rawdon Police Service. “Roads may seem dry, but may still be slippery and dangerous. Slow down and leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles.”
Here are some other helpful winter driving tips to keep in mind:
- Check weather and travel conditions before heading out.
- Call 511 for information on road conditions.
- Plan extra time to get to your destination and consider delaying or cancelling your trip in bad weather.
- Focus on your driving – put away cell phones and other distractions.
- Make sure you have sufficient windshield washer fluid and keep an extra jug in your vehicle.
- Always stay well behind a working snow plow and never pass these vehicles.
- Install four winter tires on your vehicle. All-season tires begin to lose their grip when the temperature drops below + 7 degrees Celsius.
“It’s never too late to install winter tires, they do make a difference for your safety,” says Preston. “Using winter versus all-season tires on a snow-covered road can shorten stopping distances by as much as one-and-a-half car lengths when travelling at 50 km/hr.” For more safe winter driving information, visit www.ontario.ca/winterdriving.
About the Quinte Region Traffic Coalition
The Quinte Region Traffic Coalition is a partnership of Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, Belleville Police Service, Stirling-Rawdon Police Service, 21 Military Police Flight, Napanee Highway Safety Division and the Bancroft, Central Hastings, Napanee, Prince Edward County and Quinte West OPP Detachments.
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