Be Cautious, Drive Defensively on Winter Roads: Canada Safety Council

( Ottawa ) -  In light of the horrific collision that occurred yesterday on the 401 Highway outside of Cobourg, Ontario , the Canada Safety Council is once again urging all drivers – of every age group – to be cautious and to drive defensively while on the road.

“Yesterday’s collision is a sober reminder of the need to be vigilant when it comes to safe driving,” said Raynald Marchand, General Manager of Programs for the Canada Safety Council, “Leaving earlier to get to your destination, maintaining a rate of speed at or slightly under the legal limit depending on road conditions, and maintaining a suitable following distance with other cars on the road, are key elements when it comes to proper driving procedures”.

Mr. Marchand also pointed out that an average driver takes 1.2 seconds to perceive a hazard ahead, plus another second to react and brake. In typical winter conditions, highway drivers should slow down and leave a good eight to 10 seconds following distance. On ice even more caution is needed, as a vehicle may take 10 times longer to stop.

The Council also took the opportunity to remind drivers to practice 'threshold braking’ in an emergency.  This involves pressing down hard on the brakes until the wheels start to lock up and then releasing just enough pressure to let them roll again, then gradually increase pressure and repeat until making a complete stop. This technique permits control of steering by preventing the vehicle from skidding out of control.

Safe driving takes on an even greater sense of seriousness when collisions such as the one in Ontario occur.  According to data released by Transport Canada , between 2001 and 2005, there were 7,329 fatalities among drivers on Canadian roads, and 3,334 fatalities among passengers.  Wearing your seatbelt is crucial; In 2005, 34.9% of drivers and 35.4% of passengers fatally injured were not wearing their seatbelts.

“Road fatalities and injury rates do not respect age barriers,” Mr. Marchand concluded, “It is therefore vital that drivers of every demographic be safe and cautious when operating a motor vehicle.  The costs are too great to think “this won’t happen to me” – the statistics tell us that, too often, it does”.

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