Driving in a Winter Wonderland

One more reason to shop locally

We live in a beautiful, but treacherous area of Ontario. The roads can be a real challenge during the winter, what with the low tempuratures and high winds. Living in such close proximity to the Great Lakes makes our area extremely prone to Snow Squalls, causing dangerous whiteout conditions.

Well, the snow has started to fly folks, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t just a little nervous about it. Last winter, returning home from London in the dead of night, Justin and I had our first major car accident together. We hit a small patch of snow on the road which sent our van spinning 180 degrees, then flipped over 1 and a half times. When the van settled, I was hanging from my seatbelt, sideways in the driver’s seat. Miraculously, neither of us were hurt, and none of the music gear in the van was damaged. The van itself was a writeoff.

This experience has given me a great new respect for the slippery conditions, and I’d like to share with you what I learned that night. Hopefully you can avoid such accidents!

1. Weigh the importance of your trip - Do you really need to go out? If you can stay home, it’s usually safer to do so. We were offered a place to sleep that night in London, but decided to go out anyways.
2. Winterize your vehicle - And no, all season tires are NOT enough! Making sure your oil is clean, and your car is in good working order will not only save fuel, it could keep a disaster from happening. Our van didn’t have winter tires that night, that little detail alone could have kept us out of the ditch! Also remember, when you’re at your mechanic’s, ask for Green Parts.
3. Stay Informed - There are several ways in which you can check the weather before heading out. Always remember; it could look nice and clear where you are, while snow squalls rage 10 km away. The Weather Network has up to date road conditions, weather forcasts, and warnings. Your local radio stations will keep you up to date on road closures and conditions every hour while you’re driving. If you don’t have access to the Internet, you can call the Ministry of Transportation’s Info line 24 hours a day: 1.800.268.4686.
4. Warm up your car, but don’t go overboard - It takes 30 seconds to warm up your engine. The best way to warm up the rest of your car is by driving it! Leaving your car Idle for long periods of time is not only bad for the air, it’s hard on your engine. According to EnviroZine, investing in a block heater saves a lot of fuel, and can improve your fuel efficiency by up to 10 %.
5. Be Prepared to get stranded - You could find yourself in the middle of a blizzard, or worse, upside down in a ditch. If this happens, you’ll be very thankful for your bag of toiletries, and change of clothes! Here are some more items that you should have on hand in case you get stuck: Eco-Friendly salt (Look for Pet Friendly, and Plant Friendly salt at your local hardware store), Sand, Jumper Cables, or a portable battery, Hatchet or small shovel, Flashlight, First Aid Kit and a Blanket.

The best tip of all that I can give you is to SHOP LOCALLY! Consult the Green-Book business directory for eco-friendly goods right in your neighborhood. Don’t forget to leave your own winter driving tips in the comments!