Survive a Winter Drive With These 16 Safety Tips
I hate driving in winter – especially on snowy days in the mountains. I feel like I’m always courting death especially when massive semi-trailers rumble by, dousing my entire car in a snowy mixture that leaves me blinded for a few seconds. Here are lessons I learned on how to survive a winter drive from years of close calls and near misses.
I penned this post after our experience on a drive to to Silver Star Mountain Resort near Vernon, BC.
The easiest way to get there from Calgary is via the Trans-Canada Highway over Rogers Pass to Revelstoke and then in on Highway 97A to Vernon and on up to Silver Star. I’d checked the forecast several times before leaving and fortunately it looked good.
On our climb out of Golden, BC, on route to Rogers Pass we were waved down by a fellow at the side of the road.
I admit that we don’t always stop but the person looked older (not dodgy) and the temperature was -8°C, not terrible but that’s without the windchill factored in. We also weren’t in a rush so we turned around to see what we could do.
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The man, Darius had left Golden in a car he was “hoping” would make it to Vancouver. He’d been outside of the car trying to flag someone down for at least 30 minutes so by the time we reached him he was shivering hard. That wasn’t a surprise as he was dressed in jeans and a light coat with no hat.
John tried his car – and the engine didn’t so much as turn over. Then as men must do, he looked under the hood, fiddled but saw nothing amiss.
Fortunately we did have cell service, so I called a towing place in Golden to get info and got the okay from Darius to go ahead. (It was about $180 to get towed the 25 km back to Golden) Although Darius had a cellphone, his judgement was already going because of hypothermia and his precarious situation stranded on a busy highway. He hadn’t even thought to call a tow truck.
There is a happy ending to this story. We got Darius bundled into our car and warmed up while we waited 30 minutes for the tow truck to arrive. We left him knowing he’d get to Golden in one piece.
There were many lessons that came out of this close call. Everyone must go prepared on any winter drive – an especially on one through the mountains.
Survive a winter drive with these travel safety tips
1. Drive during daylight hours
If at all possible, drive during the daylight hours. Visibility can be such an issue at night, especially in snowy conditions. And the older you get, the harder you may find the night driving.
2. Get your car serviced
On a big drive get your car checked out beforehand. If there’s been something nagging you about the car, look after it. Make sure your battery is fully charged. Check the pressure of your spare tire. Carry a spare tire!
3. Look after your windshield
Top up your windshield fluid before you leave home. Carry an extra container of windshield fluid as well. Replace your windshield blades if they streak.
4. Buy good quality snow tires
Make sure you have four matching winter tires with good tread. Don’t even contemplate driving in the mountains without good quality tires. It can literally mean the difference between getting in an accident or not.
5. Have a look at the weather forecast
Check the weather forecast before you go. Change your plans in the event of an approaching blizzard or ice storm. Some highways get consistently shut down in bad weather – especially if they’re in avalanche country. Know before you go.
6. Watch for black ice
Beware of black ice – found on bridges, overpasses or shaded sections of road when the temperature is between 4°C and -4°C. According to the Canadian Automobile Association snow and ice is more slippery at 0°C than at minus 20°C.
7. Slow down
Slow down and keep your distance when road conditions deteriorate. Be prepared to pull off, preferably at a rest area if they get really bad. You may have to get a room for a night under some conditions.
If there are a lot of people behind you, and you’re not comfortable going faster, try and find a safe place to pull over. Let them pass and continue on your journey.
8. Cruise control
Avoid cruise control and overdrive in bad conditions.
9. Do you know how to get out of a skid?
Practice getting out of a skid so it becomes second nature. Consider taking a winter driving course, especially if you don’t have much experience.
10. Carry a survival kit on a winter drive
It should include the following – snow shovel, road flares or warning light, sand and/or traction mats, reflective safety vest, extra food and drinks (carry a thermos of something hot to drink), booster cables, flashlight, survival candle, ice scraper, first aid kit, warm blankets or a warm sleeping bag, a charged cellphone, maps and fuel line antifreeze.
11. Carry extra clothing in winter
If you pull over and stop, immediately put on warmer clothes especially a hat. Hand warmers are a great idea to include as well.
12. Clear your car of snow
Before you head anywhere, always ensure all snow and ice has been cleared off the car. Don’t forget to wipe your headlights – a major factor to survive a winter drive.
13. If you’re stuck in a snowbank
Should you get trapped in a snowbank, stay calm. Then, clear the tailpipe of any snow so carbon monoxide doesn’t become a silent killer.
Crack the window so you have a touch of fresh air. Set up warning flares. And throw on those warm clothes. Move your limbs so you stay warm. Stay in you car once you’ve set up flares and cleared the tailpipe.
14. Wear a winter shoe that’s warm
My husband and I disagree on this but I say wear a warm winter shoe for driving so you have more of a feel for the brake and gas pedal. Bring a pair of good winter boots if you have to get out. Some accidents have been caused by a boot getting caught behind a brake pedal. (Thoughts on this one??)
15. Thinking distance is important
The other major issue is “thinking distance.” Your reaction time is slowed because of tiredness, drinking, age, distractions … and that will have a huge effect on how safely you drive a car.
16. Breaking distance
The breaking distance of the car is a function of its weight, the condition of the tires and brakes and road conditions. STOPPING DISTANCES on ICE SHOULD BE MULTIPLIED by 10 COMPARED to DRY CONDITIONS and SHOULD BE DOUBLED FOR RAINY CONDITIONS.
On our return from Silver Star we started in rain but by the time we hit Revelstoke we were into snow. Some of the highway was in great shape, some poor but doing it in daylight made all the difference.
Then after filling up in Golden we ran into problems. One of our light bulbs burned out so only the high beams gave us good light.
If I was alone I would have pulled off in Field for the night but John figured he could make it safely home – and we did but I hated that part of the drive. So, consider carrying an extra lightbulb – just know how to put it in as it’s very hard to change in some vehicles.
I love winter and all the outdoor adventures you can do but I sure hate the driving. It was good to be reminded on our last trip on how prepared one should be.
More reading on things to do in the mountains in winter
- Sundance Lodge: Banff’s Secret Winter Destination
- Stokely Creek Lodge for Cross-country Skiing
- What to do in Riding Mountain National Park in Winter
- A Guide to Prince Albert National Park in Winter
- What to Do in Winter in Lake Louise
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Having a survival kit in your car during the winter would be a smart thing to do in the winter. I would be really scared if I crashed on a winter road. It seems like it would be smart to put the number of your tow truck company in your kit.
@Ivy That’s a great idea.
If your car breaks down and you press the radio button and see that nothing is happening, then the symptoms point towards your car battery dying for some reason. You might try and turn the ignition, again and again, to verify whether the battery is dead. If nothing happens, then the answer is yes. If you want further evidence, there are two things that you must do to diagnose the problem:
1)Open the hood of the car
2)Take a look at the battery and try to find out if there is any corrosion at the points of connection and whether the connections are tight enough. If you find any corrosion, make sure to clean it properly and tighten the cable connector a bit more that its previous state. If, after all this, the car does not start, then your battery has died.
I’ve noticed that my car has had a lot of trouble starting lately due to the cold weather. I replaced the battery so I don’t think that would be the problem. I’ll have to remember to have a towing service in my contacts as well as blankets in case I get stranded to make sure I’m not there for too long.
“Thinking distance” is definitely something to keep in mind. If you’re tired, hungry, or your mind is elsewhere, it can definitely delay your reaction time. I’ve made a road trip back home while tired and it’s very hard to stay aware of your surroundings. Thanks for sharing the tips.
Driving in the winter time can be a very difficult thing to do. I liked that you pointed out that you shouldn’t use cruise control when you are driving. It might also be smart to have a tow truck service picked out just in case of an emergency.
@Emily I think that’s a really good idea.
My wife and I drove through an intense snow storm at the end of January. I wish I would have read this article beforehand. Your tip about checking the weather forecast before you go would have saved me a long and stressful journey. This is great advice, so thanks for sharing this article with me.
@Kyler Vertainly in winter, checking a weather forecast is helpful.
I think it’s a great point to wear warm clothes if you’re traveling in the winter. I’ve had to call a tow truck in the middle of the fall and it’s already getting a little chilly. If I was ever travelling in the winter, I would definitely try and remember to bring warm clothes because being caught in cold weather waiting for a tow truck is not a fun prospect to consider. Thanks for the awesome reminder.
thank you for tips