{"id":1826,"date":"2023-02-10T23:18:05","date_gmt":"2023-02-11T04:18:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aucanadavisa.com\/?page_id=1826"},"modified":"2023-02-24T07:49:36","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T12:49:36","slug":"driving-during-winter","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aucanadavisa.com\/fr\/useful-infos\/settling-in-canada\/driving-during-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Conduire en hiver"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\u00a0<\/div><\/div>

Most of us who are new to Canada will have driven on icy roads before, and will know what it\u2019s like\u00a0trying to cope when the temperature hovers around -1\u00b0C or -2\u00b0C.<\/p>

But there\u2019s a huge difference between that, and driving on a secluded highway at night, when it\u2019s -25\u00b0C and there\u2019s no cellular service. One wrong manoeuvre can be deadly.<\/p>

So it\u2019s with good reason that provinces have strict rules around winter driving in Canada. Here are some of the things\u00a0all newcomers should keep in mind.<\/p>

Winter tires<\/strong><\/h2>

\"Winter<\/p>

Winter tire advisories in BC, via\u00a0Flickr<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>

Winter tires are compulsory in parts of British Columbia from October 1 to March 31, and in Quebec from December 15 to March 15, each year. While not compulsory in other provinces, they are still permitted,\u00a0for example in Ontario from October 1 to April 30.<\/p>

In BC, you\u2019ll see signs like the one above\u00a0on many highways, usually when approaching\u00a0mountain passes at a high altitude and areas where conditions tend to change rapidly.<\/p>

But even when they\u2019re not compulsory,\u00a0all provinces recommend switching to winter tires when the temperature falls below 7\u00b0C.\u00a0Regular tires become hard and inflexible in colder weather, and so are less able to grip the ground. Winter tires have a bigger tread, and\u00a0offer more control to drivers.<\/p>

It\u2019s important to remove them once the weather improves in the spring, however.\u00a0This is because their softer rubber gets damaged more easily when the roads become warm.<\/p>

And as always,\u00a0you should make sure your tire pressure (including your spare tire) is at the appropriate level.<\/p>

Heaters<\/strong><\/h2>

\"Winter<\/p>

Via\u00a0BenzWorld<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>

Newcomers from Europe are often surprised to learn that Canadians need to plug in their cars in winter.<\/p>

No, it\u2019s not because they\u2019re electric cars that need a charge. It\u2019s because the weather is so cold, that they actually need to hook up\u00a0a heater just to keep crucial parts of their engine\u00a0working!<\/p>

Vancouverites may escape this, seeing as\u00a0winter temperatures\u00a0generally stay above freezing.<\/p>

But elsewhere in BC and in other provinces, where temperatures regularly fall below -15\u00b0C,\u00a0this will become part of every car owner\u2019s daily routine.<\/p>

Cold weather means the oil in your car becomes thicker. This means it has more difficulty flowing through your engine, and increases friction among the various moving parts.<\/p>

\u2018Block heaters\u2019, as they\u2019re known, ensure that your car\u2019s engine and oil stay warm. They should be turned on between two and four hours before you drive, depending on\u00a0how severe the cold is.<\/p>

This can be an issue for those travelling to work \u2013 if you need to set off at 7am, do you really want to be\u00a0waking up at 4:30am just to turn on your block heater?<\/p>

Thankfully, automated timers are available, and should only set you back around $10 or $20.<\/p>

Stock up on your essential tools for winter driving in Canada<\/strong><\/h2>

<\"Winter<\/p>

There are two types of things you\u2019re going to need to keep in your car: stuff you\u2019ll need daily, and stuff you hope you\u2019ll never need.<\/p>

You\u2019ll need ice scrapers and snow brushes daily to clear your windshield \u2013 trying to clear several centimeters of snow off with your hands is not a nice way to start your morning!<\/p>

You will also need to prepare for emergencies. Remember: road conditions can change rapidly, and you may get caught out. If that happens, it\u2019s important to be prepared\u00a0in case you do end up needing to spend a night in a car while it\u2019s -40\u00b0C outside, and you have no cell phone coverage.<\/p>

Every car should have the following supplies.<\/p>