Driving in the Canadian Rockies during the winter offers many opportunities to enjoy our wonderful scenery and endless activities. Winter driving also presents many hazards and dangers. Come to the Canadian Rockies and enjoy your experience. CanadianRockies.net., Canada s official portal of the Rockies, has prepared a detailed winter driving booklet for you to download and keep in our car or computer. For frequently asked Rockies winter driving tips, please see: http://www.canadianrockies.net/howto/winterdrivingfaq.html Best Cars to Rent When arriving in Edmonton or Calgary Airports, do yourself a favor and ask to rent an all wheel drive (AWD) car or a four wheel drive SUV. Avoid renting rear wheel drive cars. Get a car that has some size and reputation for safety. Also, make sure your vehicle has anti-lock breaks. There is nothing like finding a good AWD Subaru. Don t be fooled that driving an SUV makes you any safer quite to the contrary. Remember: your vehicle is higher off the ground and has a much greater chance to roll. A low center of gravity AWD car is the way to go. No matter whether you have a four wheel drive or an AWD vehicle, it does not help with stopping. You have to slow down and give yourself a lot of room between your vehicle and the next vehicle. Before you drive, and during your trip, check weather forecasts, road reports and web sites. If there is a weather warning or reports of poor visibility and driving conditions, delay your trip until conditions improve, if possible. Great sites we recommend: wunderground.com weather.com avalanche.ca
If you are in an area with cell phone service and have a cell phone, use it only when necessary. When you need help, pull well off the road to make or receive a call. Remember, dialing 911 on your cell phone will connect you with the emergency services contact centre in the area. Please use 1-888-310-1122 for non-emergencies. If you experience car trouble on a Canadian Rockies road or provincial highway we recommend that you stay in your vehicle to avoid personal injury. Winter Car Survival Kit Cell phone Flashlight Small snow shovel and brush Traction Maps Ice scraper Battery booster cables Tow chain Warm blanket Flares/triangle warning devices Heavy gloves Windshield washer fluid First aid kit Bottled water Energy bars or non-perishable foods Extra clothing Sand or kitty litter Fire extinguisher Fuel line antifreeze Compass Matches Road maps Quick Tips if You Get Stuck * Turn on your vehicle s full lighting system so traffic can steer clear. * The absolute worst thing you can do is panic. Remember: as long as you are in your car, you have shelter. And if you follow the tips above, you should have plenty of food and water to carry you through. * Roll down your windows two inches to let some fresh air in your car. Avoid running your motor needlessly. The longer you run your heat, radio, headlights or anything that taxes your battery, the quicker you will run your batter down. Wear a warm hat and keep your gloves on an avoid going outside. Do make sure your tailpipe is not blocked. * Be careful if you have to get out of your vehicle when on the shoulder of a busy road. If possible, use the door away from traffic.
Modify Your Driving Habits Be Winter Ready Said long time Canadian AAA mechanic Rick Harwell, "Newer cars offer traction control and antilock brakes, which do a great job of helping keep control in bad weather. But, you still have to modify your driving habits. With snow or ice on the road, the limiting factor is tire grip for braking or cornering." Harwell s advice is simple "Slow down, allow more time for braking, and stay alert." Harwell s driving tips to get through the Rockies From his experience, here are Harwell s top five winter driving tips to try and remain accident free: 1. Tires: The most important thing you can do is have good tires. Winter tires are ideal. If they re getting close to the wear bars, you should have them replaced. Make sure your tires are at the correct pressure; tires that were at the specified pressure in summer will probably be low with the colder temperatures experienced in winter. 2. Brake earlier: Most people think they have more grip than they actually do, which leads to sliding right through the intersection. If you re coming to a turn or a stop, start applying brake pressure twice as early as on dry roads. 3. Let ABS work for you: If your vehicle has an antilock braking system (ABS), you may feel a vibration in the brake pedal as the system prevents wheel lock up. Keep firm pressure on the brake pedal until your vehicle comes to a complete stop. Do not pump your brakes if your car has ABS. 4. Unwind the steering wheel: As the front tires begin to slip, most people tend to turn the wheel even more. However, the tires already can t cope with the current situation, so asking them to do more isn t the answer. Harwell recommends turning the wheel back slightly and tap the brakes a little to put more weight on the front end to help the front tires regain traction. 5. Be prepared: On a winter vacation, Harwell advises travelers to always bring warm clothes, heavy boots and a blanket. He also carries a multi-tool, a first-aid kit, and a cell phone, just in case. Finally, don t let your guard down. Things may seem fine, but conditions change rapidly. Do not lull yourself to invincibility based on your perceived safety of your car.
When visibility turns bad. Driving in blowing snow and whiteouts DO Find a safe turnoff, exit and park. Avoid driving! Avoid driving if you feel stressed out. Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits the conditions. Make sure the full lighting system of your vehicle is turned on. Be patient. Avoid passing, changing lanes and crossing traffic. Increase your following distance. You will need extra distance to brake safely. Stay alert. Keep looking as far ahead as possible. Reduce the distractions in your vehicle. Your full attention is required. Keep your windows and mirrors clean. Use defroster and wipers to maximize your vision. Try to get off the road when visibility is near zero. Pull into a safe parking area if possible. DON T X Don't stop on the traveled side of the road. This is your best chance to be the first link in a chain-reaction collision. X Don't attempt to pass a vehicle moving slowly or speed up to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely. Remember: Watch your speed. You may be going faster than you think. If so, reduce speed gradually. Leave a safe braking distance between you and the vehicle ahead. Stay alert. Remain calm and patient. We can t say this enough. If visibility is decreasing rapidly, do not stop on the road. Look for an opportunity to pull off the road into a safe parking area and wait for conditions to improve. If you become stuck or stranded in severe weather, stay with your vehicle for warmth and safety until help arrives. Use your emergency flashers.
Snow and Slush Spray On snowy, wet and slushy roads, large trucks and buses can blow moisture onto your windshield, leading to a sudden loss of visibility. Always drive defensively and leave enough space to avoid their snow spray. Make sure you have plenty of wiper fluid. Hills and Grades When approaching a hill or upgrade/downgrade, remember to do the following: 1. Select the proper gear before approaching, usually a lower gear. 2. Use the same gear going down that you used going up. This will allow the engine to act as a brake, so you will not have to use your brake excessively. Proper Driving Techniques Save driving is not an accident. Enjoy your stay in the Canadian Rockies! Proper Braking To make an emergency stop on a slippery road with Regular Brakes Pump the Brake Pedal. Antilock Brakes (ABS) Press down and hold. The ABS will pump for you. On steep or very slippery grades, use at least one gear lower, and decrease speed. Avoid quick accelerations on slick roads. That increases skidding! Skids Skids result from unexpected forces such as. 1.Black Ice 2.Driving too fast for conditions 3.Sudden steering corrections or braking 4.Sudden accelerations If your vehicle begins to skid, take the following actions: 1. Front end skids - Release the brake and let the front wheels roll freely to regain traction and steering control. 2. Rear end skids - Take foot off of accelerator and turn wheels in the direction that the rear of the vehicle is skidding, and Black ice is very dangerous because you cannot see it! Common areas you will find it: 1.Bridges/overpasses/underpasses 2.Shaded Areas Reacting to black ice Do not panic! Make no sudden changes in speed/direction! Ease off accelerator! Steer in the direction that the rear of the vehicle is skidding Stopping On Snow and Ice Drive in second or third gear rather than first or low. Engage the clutch gradually (or in d2; or high, with automatic transmission) Accelerate no more than necessary to keep from stalling
Weather Health Conditions Hypothermia Serious health problems can result from prolonged exposure to the cold. Your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced when it is exposed to cold temperatures. The result is hypothermia or an abnormally low body temperature. Body temperature that is to low affect the brain, making the person unable to think clearly or move well. Hypothermia is most likely when temperatures are very cold. However if the temperature is above 40 degrees F and a person becomes chilled from the rain, sweat or submersion in cold water they can suffer from hypothermia. Recognizing the warning signs of hypothermia: For Adults Shivering Confusion Memory loss Drowsiness Exhaustion Fumbling hands Slurred speech Infants Bright red, cold skin Very low energy If medical help is not available, begin warming the person as follows: Get the person into a warm room or shelter If the person has on any wet clothing, remove them Warm the center of the body first-chest, neck hard and groin area use an electric blanket if available. Or use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels or sheets Warm beverages can help increase the body temperature, do not use alcoholic beverages. Do not try to give beverages to an unconscious person. After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the head and neck. Get medical attention as soon as possible. A person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing. In this case, handle the victim gently and get emergency assistance immediately. Even if a person appears dead, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be provided. CPR should continue while the person is being warmed, until the person responds or medical aid becomes available. For more information on the Canadian Rockies, please go to CanadianRockies.net, Canada s Official Rockies Portal.