SGI urges caution as winter conditions lead to icy intersections

Winter driving is a yearly ritual in Saskatchewan, but even for people who have been doing it for years, it can still be dangerous.

SGI is reminding people to be careful with its monthly traffic safely spotlight.

The Crown corporation points out that icy roads make driving more difficult and dangerous in many ways, especially at intersections.

Communications consultant Heather Anderson went over some tips and why it’s important to be careful in an interview with 980 CJME/650 CKOM.

“It is dangerous out there when it comes to winter driving. It’s really important to put your best wheel forward in those winter months, because those intersections can be treacherous,” she reiterated.

Because of the extra danger, there’s a number of things people can do to reduce their risk.

“You want to stay alert as you approach intersections. Scan the road for tracks and see if there’s sand, or if the road’s bare pavement. Then, accelerate and decelerate gradually,” she said.

She also recommends preparing before people even enter their vehicle.

“You can also give yourself more time to arrive at your destination. In the winter, when we’re rushing out the door, a lot of times we give ourselves the same amount of time that we do in the summer to get to our destination. The reality is, when it comes to the winter months, it’s going to take longer,” Anderson said.

There’s also another simple technique that she recommends sticking to throughout the winter.

“Slow down. It’s really as simple as that. When you reduce your speed, you’re going to have better control of your vehicle,” she continued.

According to Anderson, it’s also important to pay close attention to the distance to other vehicles.

“Leave a five- to six-second following distance. This will really ensure you and your vehicle have enough time to react if the vehicle in front of you suddenly stops. That’s especially crucial when it comes to intersections. There’s a lot happening at intersections; pedestrians are crossing (and) vehicles are coming and going,” she said.

The numbers back up her claims that more crashes happen at intersections during the winter.

She said that 42 per cent of intersection crashes in Saskatchewan happen between December and March. Compare that to the summer months of May to August, when just 26 per cent of those types of crashes happen.

“So there is a big discrepancy there when it comes to the amount of collisions at intersections in the winter months versus the summer months,” Anderson concluded.