Tips for safe winter driving

To ensure your winter travels are safe, you need to adopt certain behaviours and adapt your driving to road conditions. 

To plan a safe and efficient trip, check the road conditions using the Québec 511 website or mobile app. You’ll find real-time alerts on winter conditions, accidents, roadwork, closures and other relevant information.

Postpone any non-essential travel when weather and road conditions are very unfavourable. This will ensure your own safety and reduce the number of vehicles on the road. Snow removal operations will also run more smoothly.

In addition, you should never drive on a closed road. The closure of a road [in French only] in winter is usually the result of a severe event that makes snow removal or safe driving impossible. When a road is closed, you should take shelter until weather and road conditions allow you to resume driving.

Before driving, make sure to thoroughly clear the snow off your vehicle using your snow brush and scraper. Fully inspect the windows, mirrors, roof, hood, headlights and licence plate. And remember to check for snow and ice that may have accumulated on the fenders.

Snow or ice flying off your vehicle can reduce visibility for other road users, injure pedestrians, damage other cars and even cause accidents. You could be fined $60 to $100 if your vehicle is not properly cleared of ice and snow.

In addition, you could be fined $100 to $200, if snow and ice reduce your ability to see. You will also be required to clean or clear the windows and windshield. 

Special considerations for heavy vehicles

If you are clearing snow from a heavy vehicle ^{Read the content of the note 1} :

• Follow the safe working procedures established by the operator and shipper.
• Use the safety materials, equipment and devices recommended and made available to you for removing snow from your vehicle.
• Follow safety rules and preventive measures carefully so you don’t compromise your own safety or that of others.

Drivers, shippers and operators must all comply with their obligations regarding vehicle snow removal. For more information on each party’s responsibilities, see the obligations relating to vehicle snow removal [in French only] (PDF 2.88 Mb).

Before hitting the road, you need to make sure that your electric vehicle’s battery range will be sufficient to cover your trip. Electric vehicles have a shorter range in winter due to low temperatures. You will therefore need to charge your vehicle more fully and more often.

On the road,

• Adjust your speed to weather and road conditions.
• Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you.
• Remain attentive and alert and avoid distractions while driving.
• Be patient around winter maintenance vehicles, as they have blind spots that you need to be aware of.
• Turn on your headlights when required (the “automatic” mode does not ensure that the rear lights are always on).
• Turn on your high beams, fog lights and hazard lights when the situation requires it. This will make you visible to machinery operators and other vehicles when visibility is poor or when there is blowing snow.