SAFE DRIVING TIPS
Driving for all seasons
Adjusting your driving style will help you cope with changing conditions

After a hectic week driving in three distinct climates it is interesting to reflect on how motorists in various countries adjust to conditions - or fail to. We drove a combined total of about 1,000 kilometres in the rain on Vancouver Island, in brilliant Texas sunshine and on snow and ice-packed Finnish roads north of the Arctic Circle.

The rain in B.C., accompanied by 80 km/h-plus winds, was relentless, never letting up. Despite flooded roads, terrible visibility and seriously windy conditions, the majority of motorists proceeded as if it was a clear summer day. Granted, rain is no stranger to Victoria, but this was heavy rain made more significant by the strong wind. Still, people drove at or above the speed limit, ran stale yellow lights and generally acted as if they'd have no difficulty stopping or avoiding an accident.

From there it was off to the hill country of central Texas - where every second vehicle was a pickup truck or SUV. And we're not talking about itty-bitty compact vehicles here. No siree, we're talking about full-size brutes with plenty of add-on stuff like winches, cattle bars and monster driving lights. The boxes of the pickups were usually loaded with gear, and in many cases there was something fastened to the roof rack.

The conditions were ideal - temps in the low 20s (Celsius), clear sky, dry roads and plenty of visibility. But once again we were surprised by the tendency of people to drive too quickly and too closely - leaving little if any room for reaction should a situation arise. Adding to the significance of this problem was that these heavy, tall vehicles, made even heavier by their loads, were driving at the same speed and following distance as cars, despite their inability to stop or turn as well as a car.

In Finland, where the day is already limited to four hours of daylight, we were also reminded of the importance of clean headlights. Every vehicle was covered in a layer of road grime, yet the head- and taillights were almost always clean. Upon asking we learned Fins make it a habit of wiping their gloves or mitts across the lights before getting into their vehicle - every time.

As we head into the worst driving conditions of the Canadian year, perhaps a little self-examination might be a good idea.

Am I driving the same way I did a few months ago, with the same speed and following distance? The colder weather means colder road surfaces and that means less grip for stopping or turning, even if the weather is clear and the conditions good. Throw a little moisture into the mix, frozen or otherwise, and it gets a lot more difficult to react properly in an emergency. And let's not forget to keep the lights and windows clean, and turn off the re-circulate switch on the HVAC system.

This is the time of year when roadways freeze on overpasses first, where a cloud covering the sun can lower the temperature a single degree, which could mean the difference between driving on water and ice. With the shorter days many of us are travelling to and from work in the dark and need to adjust our driving style and speed accordingly. The route to work we are so familiar with becomes a totally different course when conditions worsen.

Reflecting on these different driving experiences, it's interesting to note that the safest place to drive was where the conditions were the worst. Perhaps the drivers in the colder climates have more experience with winter and the difficulties of emergency manoeuvres.

It all comes down to how you adjust to changing conditions. We are blessed in this country with four seasons, and depending on where you live, a constantly changing climate. This requires us not only to be aware of the changes, but plan for and adjust our driving style accordingly.