Winter weather can bring challenging driving conditions

Driving conditions in winter can be unpredictable. Ensure you are ready for driving in the winter by:

• Installing winter-rated tires, which can help improve safety and increase traction on slippery, snow-covered or icy roads.
• Having an emergency kit in the trunk of your vehicle with items such as blankets, a shovel, a flashlight, a flare, food and a first-aid kit.
• Using a windshield-washer fluid rated for -40°C or lower.
• Checking the weather forecasts and driving conditions before going out on the roads. Allow for extra driving time or wait until conditions improve. 

During the winter, Regional Works depots are active and ready to respond to winter events. Preventative techniques are used throughout Durham Region, including anti-icing methods, which involves applying brine to dry roads before a storm. Prior to a winter storm, pre-wetted salt is applied to the roads – this means brine is sprayed onto the salt at the spinners. Pre-wetting helps keep salt on the road instead of bouncing off.

More than 70 pieces of winter maintenance equipment may be deployed in a winter storm. Snowplow operators must travel at reduced speeds, so it is important to be patient and slow down when driving behind them. Although there are many mirrors to help the operator see around the vehicle, visibility is still limited, especially behind the “wing” (the plow blade that extends to the right of the vehicle). It is important that drivers do not pass a snowplow; the road is safer behind the plows.

These simple precautions can help reduce winter driving risks to ensure all residents are safe on our roads this winter. To learn more about how we are making Durham roads safer visit durham.ca/VisionZero. To learn more about winter road maintenance, visit durham.ca/RoadMaintenance.