Last week, as Jasper saw its first dump of snow, drivers across town braced themselves for another winter of ugly roads and early-morning windshield scraping. The ping of gravel inside wheel wells serves as the perfect reminder to motorists to shift into a winter driving mindset.
Chad Lazzari has been driving cabs most of his life. He’s driven through some of the worst winter weather imaginable, and said everyone should winterize their cars, and they should do it soon.
First and foremost, he said, slap on a good set of winter tires.
“Having good rubber is really important,” he said. Treaded winter tires are essential for gripping slippery ice and snow, and if you start to lose control of your vehicle, good tires are most likely to save you.
Of course, sometimes ice is so slippery that even the stickiest rubber won’t be enough, that’s why Lazzarri said over the next week or two, everyone should refamiliarize themselves with driving on ice.
He suggested going into an empty parking lot where ice has formed to get a feel for it again. Learning how a car reacts when it slips across a sheet of ice will make you more prepared if it happens to you on the road.
“It’s nice to lose control when you’re in a safe place,” he said, “that’s how you become a good driver.”
Finally, he said, make sure you’re prepared with a survival kit in case a treacherous turn gets the best of you. Pack your trunk with candles to keep warm and provide light; bright objects or flags to grab attention of passing motorists; and food, water and blankets, in case you get stuck in your car over a sub-zero Alberta night.
But his most important piece of advice is simply “go slow.”
Trevor Nichols
[email protected]
