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SLOW DOWN. STAY ALERT. STAY FOCUSSED.
A series of short videos were created in partnership with the OPP and featured on video terminals at over 121 Esso Gas stations throughout the GTA during the earlier part of this year. The video clips featured OPP Sergeant Cam Woolley
who spoke about a variety of road safety topics.
View the video clips here.
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Summer Driving Tips
By Sgt. Cam Woolley
Summer is here at last and in addition to the number of cars on the road, cyclists and motorcyclists have come out of hibernation. Please drive carefully.
Here are some tips and suggestions to keep you and your family safe on the road this summer:
Service your vehicle or have it done professionally. Be sure to:
- check your tire pressure often throughout the summer
- switch to summer or all season tires
- check all the fluids in your vehicle including oil, washer fluid, coolant/antifreeze mixture
Prepare an emergency kit for your car which includes:
- flashlight, extra batteries, flares, first aid kit
- jumper cables
- blanket(s)
- extra clothes and gloves
- non-perishable food
- wet naps and paper towels
- water
- basic tools (wrenches, ratchet/socket set, screwdrivers, pliers etc)
Plan ahead and take breaks
Check your route before you leave. If you are unfamiliar with where you are going, pull over to check your map to avoid any further stress or distractions. Stop frequently for breaks. If you become drowsy or uncomfortable, pull over immediately and take a break.
Keep all windows free of clutter
Pack items requiring quick access in a convenient location and pack the rest in the trunk or rear of your vehicle.
Don't tow a trailer for the first time the day of your outing
Read the directions, practice and ask for help or tips. This will give you the confidence needed to get safely to your destination and will allow you to deal with the extra weight and length in whatever traffic situations may arise. Be prepared; it will take longer to slow down when you are towing a trailer. Make sure you know the traffic laws that apply to the model you are towing.
Use your signals and keep your distance
Let other drivers know in advance before you change lanes and be sure to stay a few car lengths away from the vehicle ahead of you whenever possible.
Keep the kids busy
Bring items (games, movies, food) to occupy your children but don't overload the vehicle so that it becomes a distraction to the driver.
Buckle Up
It's more than the law - it could save your life. Wearing your seat belt properly will dramatically increase your chances of surviving a motor vehicle collision. If you are the driver, ensure that all children 16 years and under are also properly secured.
Don't Drink and Drive
Make sure you understand the effects of drugs and alcohol. Refuse to ride with someone who may be impaired. Plan ahead- chose a designated driver before going out or set some money aside for a taxi.
Above all, remember to RELAX. If you find yourself stressed behind the wheel, calm down and take a deep breath. An aggressive state of mind will come through in your driving behaviour.
Have a safe and happy summer!
Driving in the BIG FREEZE
Tips for Passenger vehicles:
Driving during severe cold weather brings additional stresses on man and machine. As the Alberta Clippers move through the area, motorists can reduce unnecessary risk by taking additional precautions.
Getting started. Ensure that your car battery is in top condition. Battery performance drops significantly with the temperature. For example, available power from a battery drops to 40% at -18 C, and below.
Check the oil. While it is important to periodically check your engine oil level, it is equally important that the type of oil in your engine is rated for the cold weather. As temperatures drop, oil can become thicker, increasing friction, slowing the starter, and possibly not flowing to critical components. Check your owner's manual recommendations.
Check your engine antifreeze. Like motor oil, not only is the level important, but also the fluid itself should be tested to ensure that it cannot freeze in cold weather. Antifreeze gradually loses its protection from freezing and corrosion, which can lead to reduced effectiveness of your heater and ruin your engine.
See where you are going. Check your windshield washer level and ensure that it is filled with fluid rated for cold weather. Washer fluid that has been left in the vehicle for a long time may loose its antifreeze properties as the alcohol evaporates. Ensure wiper blades are in good condition and free of ice and snow. Turning on the wipers when they are overloaded or frozen to the windshield may ruin the mechanism. Clean snow off the entire vehicle, checking lights and signals at the same time.
Check your tire pressure. Under-inflated tires are a significant safety hazard and a waste of fuel. Tire pressure drops 1 PSI for every 1 degree C drop in temperature. Always check your tire pressure when the vehicle has not been driven for at least 3 hours, or driven less than 2 km. Also ensure that the tires are in good condition, have adequate tread depth, and are a type suited for the roads you will be traveling on. It is recommended that the snow tires be fitted on your vehicle in sets of four.
Stopping distances. In the winter weather, stopping distances can increase and more than double on snowy or icy roads. Tires also lose some of their grip as the rubber compounds harden on the cold. Roads that appear "dry" may also have a coating of dried salt and loose sand that can also affect handling capabilities. The effectiveness of salt is also reduced as the temperature drops, with a low limit about -18 C. The road temperature is generally warmer than the air, increasing with traffic flow. Motorists should use extra caution at night, on lightly travelled roads, on bridges and overpasses, and in treed areas.
Tips for Commercial vehicles:
- Winterize engine fluids. Winterize oil, engine, transmission, and differentials.
- Batteries must be A-1. Batteries must be A-1 because a marginal battery won't start you and may not take a boost.
- Be tactical about where you park your truck. A cowboy would know to keep the tail to the wind.
- Keep gas tank filled. The weight of the fuel will help to give traction when running an empty trailer.
- See and be seen. Keep windows and lights clear and clean of snow.
- LED lights and signals are brighter and more reliable but don't generate heat, so stop periodically to clear ice and snow.
- Check tire pressure. Tire pressure drops in cold temperatures and low air pressure is the number one cause of tire failure.
- Don't skip periodic maintenance even though it is cold and wet, don't skip periodic maintenance. You can experience universal joint, driveshaft & hub failure.
- Making sure you can stop. Now that you have it going, is it going to stop? Water is the enemy of air brakes, by ruining seals and interfering with performance. Make sure your air dryer is functional.