Keep road safety in mind during winter weather

It's inevitable - slushy, snow and icy conditions are waiting in the wings to make their debut on Canadian roads this winter. Bad weather can often occur without notice, too, so it's best to bone up on your defensive driving skills before the first snowfall of the season.

Alliance Tire Professionals and the

Canada Safety Council have put together some important tips to keep in mind as the temperatures drop.

Don't be a

'peephole' driver

The weather's been great all week, and today you wake up to find frost all over your car. You've managed to find the window scraper, but now you're late for work. Scrimping on

scraping might get you to work faster - but it's a dangerous driving habit that needs to be broken. We've all seen them - drivers who clear a peephole in the windshield while the rest of their car is encased in ice. Defrost buttons are a great invention - but good, oldfashioned elbow grease is the best way to ensure you can see and be seen.

Know your tires

All-season tires may be sufficient for those parts of the country where winters are generally mild. For those of us who are generally snowed, iced, or slushed-in for six months of the year, however, winter tires are a must. Winter tires increase traction in soft snow, making it easier to maneuver around corners and climb out of snow banks. Winter tires also perform better in cold weather, since the rubber compound in all-season tires can harden when the temperature drops below -10 degrees C, resulting in less traction. In Canada, tires marked with the pictograph of a peaked mountain with a snowflake mean they are designed for use in severe winter conditions.

If you do put winter tires on your car, make sure you have them installed on all four wheels. Vehicles with front-wheel drive, for example, need both linear (forward) traction and lateral traction, particularly on the rear wheels, to prevent spinout and loss of control.

Don't forget to check your tire pressure at least once a month, and especially before a long holiday season road trip. Even with winter tires, tire pressure decreases by one pound for every 5 degree C drop in temperature. Tire experts such as your local Alliance Tire Professionals dealer can help you choose the tires that are right for your vehicle.

Winterize your trunk Keeping a road safety kit

in your trunk year-round is a smart idea, but winter driving conditions call for special safety gear. These items should cover most situations, so make sure you keep the following on hand, just in case.

Windshield scraper and snow brush, lightweight shovel, bag of sand, wire traction mat or other abrasive substance, properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench and jack, rope, blanket, flashlight, flares, first-aid kit, battery jumper cables.

Visit Sheardown Auto Tire & Glass in Bolton for more information on keeping your tires at their best. Information is also available at www.alliancetires. com and www.safetycouncil. org.