Recover from summer: Following the busy summer driving season and numerous road trips, your tires may be a little tired. A study conducted by Hankook Tire America Corp found that 70 percent of North Americans planned to take a road trip this past summer, with the average North American logging approximately 725 miles on their vehicle. With increased wear and tear on your tires as a result of summer trips, the tread depth may not be what it used to be. Tires with unsatisfactory tread depth decrease the tire’s traction in various road conditions and can potentially put you and your passengers at risk. Tires must be replaced when the tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch. You can easily check your tires’ tread once a month by using the quarter test – place a quarter, head down into the tread of the tire. If George Washington’s entire head is showing, your tread is too low.

Air ‘em up: Did you know tire pressure changes as the outdoor temperature does? For every 10 degree change in temperature, your tires lose or gain 1 to 2 pounds of pressure, meaning as the hot summer weather gives way to a cooler fall, your tires will be losing air pressure. Add foliage, rain and slick driving conditions to the mix and it is even more essential to have the right tire pressure. Proper inflation maintains an even contact pressure of the tread to the road offering the performance the tire was designed to provide, while at the same time helping to prevent uneven wear. Proper inflation also reduces rolling resistance and quickly discharges heat that is generated. The correct tire inflation pressure for your vehicle can be found in the vehicle’s owner’s manual. While correct tire inflation is key to performance, it is also important to remember to not overinflate your tires. When tires are overinflated, they are more susceptible to road hazards and damage.

Be safe…and save: The fall season means school is back in full swing. With that comes the ritual of shuttling kids to school, extracurricular activities, sports practice and school events adding mileage to the everyday routine. Trips to college homecoming festivities, football games and Thanksgiving gatherings can also translate into some serious mileage on your vehicle’s tires. If you’re ready to replace your tires, choose an all-season tire which decrease rolling resistance creating a smooth, quiet ride in all-season conditions. By minimizing wasted energy and improving fuel efficiency, lower rolling resistance tires can save you gas and money, while keeping the kids safe.

A little tire care can go a long way to keeping you and your vehicle safe on the road this fall.

Article via ARA Content

Ontario had the lowest fatality rate of all provinces and territories — 4.8 per 100,000 people. Yukon had the highest overall at 24.1. When the territories were excluded, Saskatchewan had the worst fatality rate at 15.4.

Of the people who died in 2008 accidents:

• 54 per cent were drivers
• 20 per cent were passengers
• 12 per cent were pedestrians
• 9 per cent were motorcyclists
• 1.7 per cent were bicyclists

There was a significant urban-rural divide in the fatalities. While 701 people died in urban accidents, 1,450 died in rural accidents.

Fewer Canadians are dying or suffering injuries in car collisions

However, 87,179 people were injured in urban accidents compared to 38,079 in rural areas, suggesting access to close emergency healthcare may be a factor. The fatalities are also broken down by age, with the most deaths occurring in the 65-and-up category, with 409 fatalities. In comparison, there were 258 fatalities involving those aged 15-19, and 369 aged 25-34.

The government says the decline of deaths puts Canada in the position to achieve its goal of reducing road fatalities by 30 per cent from the 1996-to-2001 rate.

“Our government is committed to improving road safety and we have introduced important measures to reach that goal,” Transport Minister Chuck Strahl said in a statement.

“The decline in deaths from road collisions is very encouraging, but the number of people affected is still too high. Everyone has a role to play for improving road safety. Canadians can take simple actions and decisions to make our roads safer.”

Transport Canada is confident the decline will continue as new laws, such as mandating electronic stability control (ESC) in all vehicles, come into effect. ESC becomes mandatory for all new vehicles in September.

Your Clothing

Many Canadians will tell you that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. In many ways this is true, as if you dress correctly for the weather conditions then you will fare better that someone who isn’t.

Layers are the key as weather can change quickly and without warning, so if you wear layers you can peel them off when the weather gets warmer or add layers as it gets colder.

If you are a visitor to Canada or perhaps this is your first winter here as a newcomer a good tip is to buy winter clothing when you are actually in Canada as the clothing here is made for the conditions experienced. If you buy a warm coat from say the UK, it might be OK for the odd day when the weather dips to -1°C, but will it cope when Canadian temperatures dip to -20°C? Many clothing and footwear items in Canada actually state the temperature they are made to cope with. They will also state if they are water and/or wind repellent.

Buy a coat that has a hood and can be secured tightly round the neck, make sure it is tightly woven to keep out the cold and that the fastening at the front has both a zipper and another fastening over the zipper such as buttons or Velcro to stop the wind entering the garment.

Go for layers of lightweight, loose fitting clothing as this will trap body heat and keep you warmer than a single thick layer. Always wear a hat, as much of your body heat is lost through your head. Gloves or mittens are also a must and many can be purchased in thin, lightweight fabrics that are also very warm, but allow more movement, such as Thinsulate™.

Footwear is another important consideration. You will need boots that are both warm and waterproof. Again many boots and shoes will show the temperature they are designed to withstand, some of them with quite frightening temperatures such as -60°C. A high-legged boot is a good idea for snow conditions and if you can tuck your pants into the top it is a bonus as it will stop you getting wet clothing.

Your Home

Preparing your home for winter is as important as preparing yourself. Make sure your roof is sound and all your plumbing is adequately protected.

A generator is often a good investment. There are several types of generator, ranging in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. If you lose power in the winter, or indeed any time of the year you can switch to generator power. Depending on the size and type of generator purchased, this will keep anything electric going in your home from just a few lights and sockets to the whole house. Remember if you buy a house that has a well, you will have an electric well pump. This will fail if the power goes and you will have no water. A generator can keep the well pump going during a power outage enabling you to obtain water from the taps, flush toilets etc. The key things to keep going during a power outage are some sockets for items like kettles, lights, well pump, heating system and possibly the freezer.

An emergency kit is always advisable in the home containing things such as a flashlight, extra batteries, extra fuel for your generator, camping stove, water supply, medication etc. Make sure everyone in the family knows where things are kept and how to use the generator, although children should always be supervised. Make sure animals are well cared for and also have an ongoing food and water supply. In case you end up being house-bound for any length of time you should stock up on food and drink items that are non-perishable, such as canned food.

Your Vehicle

Make sure you vehicle is ready for the winter and if needed take it into the garage for a winter tune-up. Regularly check tire pressure, engine oil, wiper and washer fluid, antifreeze, battery etc.

Winter tires are also an important addition to your vehicle. These tires are made to cope with snow and ice and your car will perform better in these conditions if winter tires are fitted. Many Canadian vehicles are fitted with all-season tires, but these often do not provide enough traction during the winter. Some provinces, such as Quebec, require the fitting of winter tire by law. Book your tire change early in the season to avoid delays at the garage.

You can also purchase winter wiper blades, which are designed to cope with snow and ice better than regular wiper blades.

Make sure you have a “winter kit” in your vehicle at all times. This should include things such as snack bars, water, flashlight, batteries, warm blankets or sleeping bags, shovel, snow chains, ice scraper, toilet paper, cash, cell phone charger, maps etc. You should also make sure you have sufficient warm clothing in case you need to walk any distance. Also if you have children, make sure you have games or books in the car to keep them occupied.

Only drive in severe weather conditions if absolutely necessary and always let someone know your route and expected time of arrival, just in case. Make sure you have relevant phone numbers programmed in your cell phone in case of emergency.

Winter Conditions

Wind Chill Index

Wind chill is the temperature that your skin will feel regardless of the actual recorded temperature. For example if the actual temperature outside is -5°C, but the wind chill is -18°C, you will feel as cold as if it were actually -18°C.

For temperatures of 0 to -10°C you will simply need to wear warm clothing. For temperatures of between -10°C and -25°C there is a risk of hypothermia if exposed for long periods. -25°C to -45°C there is not only a risk of hypothermia but of frostbite too. In temperatures of -45°C to -59°C, exposed skin can freeze in minutes and for temperatures exceeding -60°C there is extreme danger when exposed for even a few seconds.

Canadian weather forecasts always include the wind chill factor and you should use this as a guide to how cold it will be and react accordingly.

Freezing Rain

This is snow that is super cooled as it falls and freezes on impact. This ice is very heavy and can build up on overhead cables, trees etc and cause then to fall creating dangerous conditions and power outages. Because the freezing rain hits the ground as a rain droplet it means that a thick layer of ice is formed, making for very dangerous driving conditions.

Blizzards

Blizzards are severe storms combining snow and high winds with very low visibility. These can be dangerous for both pedestrians and drivers due to both the poor visibility and drifting snow. Blizzards are typically classified as having winds in excess of 40 km/ph with snow or blowing snow and visibility of less than a kilometer for at least four hours.

Winter Related Conditions

Frostbite

Frostbite damages the body’s tissue during extreme cold. Wind chills of minus 20°C can cause frostbite in half an hour. Symptoms include loss of feeling and pale appearance to extremities such as fingers, toes, ears etc. Medical help is needed immediately symptoms are detected and the patient needs to be gradually warmed up with blankets or body heat from another person. Never rub the affected area as this can cause more damage.

Most people will recover from frostbite, although severe forms may result in loss of the affected area. The key is to warm the patient gradually and not expose them to sudden temperature increases.

Hypothermia

This is a condition caused when the body starts to loose heat quicker than it can make it. For most people a drop of 2°C on their normal temperature will induce hypothermia. Normal body temperature is 37°C.

Symptoms include shivering, cold, pale or blue skin, slurred speech, numbness and confusion, eventually leading to unconsciousness. Treatment is needed urgently and the patient needs to be kept as warm as possible.

Treatment depends on severity and can range from simply getting the patient out of the cold conditions and warming up to more severe cases that require hospitalization.