![\"Best](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/winterdriving2.jpg\" "\\"Best")
<\/div>\n1. Install Winter Tires on Your Car<\/h3>\n
The importance of winter tires is never something you should ignore.<\/p>\n
Winter tires can shorten<\/a> your braking distance as much as 25 percent.\u00a0That\u2019s a major difference if you\u2019re driving on icy roads and need to stop suddenly.<\/p>\n Winter tires can be expensive, but the damage a winter car accident<\/a> could cause isn\u2019t worth saving the money. Take advantage of the Ontario winter tire\u00a0discount- as of January of this year, the government requires any car insurance company to provide a discount if you have winter tires for your vehicle.<\/p>\n All-season tires won\u2019t cut it, either. They lose their grip when the temperature drops below<\/a> 7 degrees celsius.<\/p>\n So many people neglect clearing off their entire car. You\u2019ve probably seen cars driving down the road with only enough brushed away from the windshield for\u00a0the driver to see.<\/p>\n This is dangerous. It also makes you look lazy to other drivers who make the effort to clear their car.<\/p>\n Just because it\u2019s cold outside doesn\u2019t mean you can slack on snow clearing. You need full visibility in the winter. If you\u2019re that cold, warm up your car\u00a0while you brush it off so it\u2019s toasty when you get inside.<\/p>\n Leaving snow on your roof can be a hazard to the cars around you, especially when you\u2019re taking the highway. You may not realize it, but snow can fly into\u00a0the windows of other cars, obstructing their view.<\/p>\n It only takes a second for an accident to happen, especially when you\u2019re driving in the snow.<\/p>\n All drivers should keep a survival kit in the trunk for safety measures. This will keep you safe if you run into trouble on the road.<\/p>\n Some of the main items in your kit should include<\/a> lock de-icer, a\u00a0flashlight, road flares, a first aid kit, and a sign incase you need to get someone\u2019s help.<\/p>\n This kit should also include a safety blanket, extra sleeping bag, or just a regular blanket. Keep this in your backseat instead of in the trunk so it\u00a0doesn\u2019t get too cold.<\/p>\n If you do get in an accident, or get stranded, this will keep you warm until help arrives. This is especially important when you\u2019re driving in those rural\u00a0areas of Ontario, where the roads are even more unpredictable.<\/p>\n There are several reasons to do this.<\/p>\n Firstly, if you ever find yourself stranded or stuck in a big traffic jam, you won\u2019t run out of gas. Winter driving conditions can make your trip take a\u00a0lot longer than you expected, since everyone is traveling much slower than in the summer.<\/p>\n Secondly, having a full gas tank makes your car heavier, which can keep it slower. This helps you stay grounded and steady when you drive on ice or snow.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also a good idea to take your car for a tune-up and maintenance check before the snow starts falling. The better shape your car is in when winter\u00a0hits, the more likely you can avoid accidents.<\/p>\n Your car\u2019s cruise control system is nice and convenient, but not when you\u2019re driving on icy roads.<\/p>\n Using cruise control makes it too easy to lose control and cause an accident. The winter driving conditions require your focused attention and highest\u00a0reaction time.<\/p>\n In addition, the technology that powers your cruise control can backfire on you. If it senses that you\u2019re going slower, due to the resistance from the\u00a0snow, it\u2019ll feed more gas to your engine to force your car to accelerate.<\/p>\n Most Canadians who have been driving for a long time know that you have to drive slower in the winter. While this may seem common sense to most of us, some\u00a0of us believe that because we have better cars that we can drive faster, pass people, and follow people too close.<\/p>\n This is not a good idea and can cause a serious accident. Regardless of what kind of car you\u2019re driving, you should always drive with caution and slow\u00a0down.<\/p>\n When you pull out onto a main street, don\u2019t accelerate to the limit right away. Adjust for the conditions and feel them out before you start getting up to\u00a0full speed<\/a>.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t accelerate too quickly, either. If you do this, you could spin out before you even get through the intersection. You could also get rear ended if the\u00a0cars behind you aren\u2019t paying attention.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to make sure you slow down when you turn. But you should also be slowing down a good distance before you need to stop to prevent sliding.<\/p>\n Just because you know your car handles the snow and ice better, or you have winter tires, doesn\u2019t mean other cars do.<\/p>\n You never know when the car in front of you is going to come to an unexpected stop.\u00a0Be prepared by paying attention and giving yourself enough room to stop safely just in case the unexpected happens.<\/span><\/p>\n Some cities in Ontario have bylaws that determine where you\u2019re allowed to park during the winter. Sometimes you can\u2019t park on certain sides of the street,\u00a0and sometimes you can\u2019t park overnight.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re parked on the street and it snows, pay attention to city-wide announcements. You could risk getting towed if you\u2019re on the street and the plows\u00a0come out. That means extra hassle, payments, and fines.<\/p>\n Not only that, but if you\u2019re on the road and a plow comes by, they could just plow around you. That causes a pile of snow you have to dig through to get\u00a0your car.<\/p>\n Try to avoid leaving your car on the road altogether. If you really can\u2019t avoid this, make sure you move it if it starts snowing.<\/p>\n We know that you have places to be. Canadians are busy and need to get to work, or to appointments or other engagements.<\/p>\n However, when the weather\u2019s going to be really bad, consider staying in. Check the weather with enough time before you leave to decide if it\u2019s worth it to\u00a0endure the drive.<\/p>\n For Ontario weather conditions and updates, call 511 on your phone, visit the traveller information services website<\/a>, or find them on twitter at @511Ontario.<\/p>\n You can also consider taking public transportation to your destination. This keeps your car safe from harm.<\/p>\n Winter car accidents can happen to even the most prepared drivers. It\u2019s not your fault when other drivers don\u2019t take the necessary precautions in the\u00a0winter.<\/p>\n When car accidents happen, get the compensation you deserve. At Conte & Associates, we are experienced personal injury <\/a>lawyers who fight aggressively\u00a0to get you that peace of mind.<\/p>\n Accidents can ruin your life, but we can change the outcome. Contact Conte & Associates today for your free consultation and start getting your life\u00a0back on track.<\/p>\n2. Clear the Snow off Your Entire Car- Roof Included<\/h3>\n
![\"Car](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/winterdriving5.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3. Create a Survival Kit<\/h3>\n
4. Never Leave Your Gas Tank Low<\/h3>\n
![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/winterdriving1.jpg\")
<\/div>\n5. Don\u2019t Use Cruise Control<\/h3>\n
6. Slow and Steady Keeps You Safe<\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/winterdriving3.jpg\")
<\/p>\n7. Keep a Safe Distance Behind Other Vehicles<\/h3>\n
8. Watch Where You Park<\/h3>\n
![\"Snow](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/winterdriving4.jpg\")
<\/div>\n9. If You Don\u2019t Need to Go Anywhere, Don\u2019t<\/h3>\n
Conte & Associates Can Help With Winter Car Accidents in Ontario<\/h3>\n
![\"Best](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/cta_2-1-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"