680News traffic

Weather can certainly be a factor when driving, especially at this time of year.  It would seem that we are now getting used to the idea of driving through snow and ice in frigid temperatures, but what we weren’t prepared for the other morning were the high winds and the impact they had on the morning commute. 

The strong winds seemed to be a factor in traffic lights malfunctioning at many intersections in and around the GTA.  Either the lights were completely out all ways, or they were flashing red.  We had a lot of calls from disgruntled motorists complaining that many were not following the proper rules of the road when driving through these intersections.  So, I thought that perhaps a refresher course on these rules might be helpful.

First of all, if you come across an intersection with flashing amber lights you are to proceed with caution.  But if they lights are flashing red, or if they are out, then you must come to a complete stop. 

The right of way goes to the vehicle that has arrived at the intersection first.  If more than one vehicle arrives at the same time, then you defer to the driver on the right.  If two drivers are facing each other and one wants to make a left turn, the right of way goes to the driver going straight through the intersection.  When there are multi-lanes, then all cars that are stopped side-by-side can travel though the intersection together when it is their turn to go.  However, if you arrive at a multi-lane stop after another driver travelling in the same direction has entered the intersection, you must stop and wait your turn.

Failure to follow these rules can bring about a charge under the Highway Traffic Act. The charge is “Flashing Red Light - Fail To Stop” (Section 144-Subsection 21) and carries with it a $110 fine and three demerit points. 

So, when we suggest you treat an intersection with lights flashing red or lights out as an all-way stop, it is not simply a courtesy. It is the law.

As we start a new year, we are faced with yet another price jump at the pump.

I was just scanning my last year’s gas receipts and was shocked to see that a year ago I paid 74.5 cents a liter to gas up my car.

When something like this happens, it makes me start to think about what I can do to cut back on my driving.

By far, the most mileage I log every day is on my drive to work. So what are my options?

I start work at 5 a.m., so I can’t take the subway since it doesn’t start running till 6 a.m. I have tried to take the all-night buses, but that adds an hour to my travel time and, at the time of night I have to travel, safety is also a concern. So I don’t have much of a choice; I have to drive to work.

One might argue that my case is unique and that those who work more regular hours can use public transit. But, for one of my neighbours who starts work at 9 a.m., her trip via public transit takes 50 minutes, but the drive takes eight minutes. You don’t have to do the math. She already has, and guess how she gets to work each day?

GO Transit is another story. Some swear by it, others swear at it.

Ontario Auditor General Jim McCarter’s recent report warns that “GO Transit service is going off the rails due to poor planning and inadequate funding, leaving commuters stuck in overcrowded, tardy trains.” His report goes on to state that Go Transit was on schedule only 89.5 per cent of the time last year, while Montreal’s system was on schedule 98 per cent of the time. “In addition, some types of delays are systemic,” states McCarter, and were not included in the review.

Unlike most European countries, we are not a nation built on a viable public transportation system. Public transit has to be reliable and help us save time as well as money. If it’s not convenient we are not going to use it.

So how about carpooling? Again, there are many who do it and love it, but just as many find it very restricting. If you are lucky enough to find someone who shares your work schedule, who works at or near your work place, as is reliable then maybe carpooling is for you. But again, that’s a big “if.”

So what can I do to cut back on my driving? Well, I can try and be more conscious of the errands I run and bundle them based on location. That might help a bit. But, I think the sad reality is that even if the gas prices jump to $2 a liter, I will just have to “suck it up,” pay the price, and keep on driving.

A defeatist attitude perhaps, but I really don’t believe that I have much of a choice.

This is by far the most difficult time of year for drivers.  Rapidly changing, unpredictable weather patterns can turn a decent drive into a nightmare within seconds.

We are also driving in the dark each morning as we go to work, and in the evening when we are heading home.  And let’s not forget the effect the build up to Christmas has on our ability to focus on driving.  Many of us are distracted, and at times completely overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done.

Christmas shopping provides its own challenges to drivers.  Not only are we looking for that perfect gift, we also need to track down that very hard to come by parking spot!! 

This frantic search can turn even the most docile driver into an aggressive predator.  I remember one year driving around a shopping mall parking lot for ages.  Twice, already,   I had given up a spot to a more aggressive rival.  The third time I was not giving in.  I eyed my opponent as we both waited for the car to back out.  I gesticulated to the other driver that this was my spot and he gesticulated back.  I shook my head and mouthed   “No. This is MY spot”.  He must have seen the fire in my eyes because he sped off, squealing his wheels in the process.

Did I enjoy my hard fought victory?  No.  As I shopped my imagination ran wild.  What if the other driver is so angry that he “keys” my car, or breaks a window, or worse…is waiting for me when I return?  Could I handle a parking lot rumble?

As it turned out all my worrying was for naught.  My car was untouched and no one was hovering in the shadows; no one that is except for two anxious motorists vying for my spot.

Do you have a Christmas parking lot story?

No matter how prepared we are, scary things can happen when we are driving, especially in the winter.

Yesterday I was on the 401 (not a route I enjoy using to begin with ) and a huge sheet of snow and ice flew off the truck in front of me and smashed into by windshield, temporarily blinding me. I was totally taken by surprise and automatically swerved into the left lane to try and avoid being hit by the ice. Luckily no other car was in the left lane at the time. So I made a mental note to make sure that I clear the snow from the roof of MY car, and not just from the windows. I would hate to be the one to cause an accident because I had not taken the time to properly clear my car of snow and ice.

Another frightening driving experience occurred last weekend while I was in
Minnesota for my nephew’s hockey tournament. A huge storm hit the area and road conditions were treacherous to say the least. I found myself having to drive through a blizzard at night. After four hours of white-knuckle driving I arrived at the airport just half an hour before my scheduled flight. It was an experience I never want to repeat.

Have you had a frightening winter driving experience you would like to share?  I’d love to hear about it. 

Oops we did it again.   

It seems that every time we get hit with that first snowfall there are a record number of accidents. We had over 700 accidents last year as a result of the first snowfall and this year the total was around 700 as well. 

Why are the numbers so high? We were given ample warning that the snow was coming.  We also know that, at this time of year, driving conditions can deteriorate rapidly. 

Is there anything we can do to lower these accident totals? 

According to the OPP Highway Safety Division the number one thing we need to do when the weather turns nasty is SLOW DOWN and drive according to the conditions. Travelling at too fast a pace for the conditions is the number one cause of winter crashes. 

Also, don’t get too close to the vehicle in front of you. Stopping distances are at least double on snowy roads, and even greater when the roads are icy.  

And make sure your vehicle is winter road worthy. By this I mean make sure you have snow tires, that you have had a winter safety check and that all your fluids are topped up, especially your windshield washer fluid. Make sure you have a scraper in the car and take the time to do a proper job of removing the ice and snow from your windows before pulling out of your driveway. Being able to see properly is half the battle. 

I would also suggest that, when faced with difficult driving conditions, you put the cell phone away and concentrate on the task at hand.   

So what do you think could help reduce the number of accidents? If you have any suggestions or driving tips I would love to hear them.

This year, as you make your Christmas list, don’t forget to include your best friend.  No, I’m not talking about your dog, I’m talking about your other best friend, your car (or van, or SUV, whatever your vehicle of choice). 

I plan on treating my new van to some floor mats and seat covers.  But there are also all kinds of great gadgets.

I also bought one of those heated electric scrapers.  They are great for melting the ice off your windows so I am told. 

You know what I would love to get for my car?  A rear-view camera.  I never know how much space I have behind me when I back up and a camera would really help me get out of those tight spaces without having to constantly get out of my vehicle to check.

If your vehicle doesn’t already have a navigation system or a remote starter then perhaps one of these would make a great gift.

Or how about a gift certificate for rust proofing? 

What about a gift basket?  You could include all kinds of neat things; a first aid kit, blind spot mirrors, some Armarol maybe.

So what do you plan on buying your vehicle for Christmas?  Let me know if you have any good gift ideas or if there is a car accessory that you find to be invaluable.

Well it’s that time of the year again. The time of year when you are faced with making an important safety decision. Should you or shouldn’t you …get winter tires?

No doubt they are an added expense. Even if you already own them there is the hassle of getting to the shop to have your tires changed.

So are winter tires really worth it? Are they important? Do they really make that much of a difference?

The answer from all the experts seems to be a resounding YES.

According to a 2005 Ministry of Transportation study; in winter driving conditions, a proper winter tire requires a 25 per cent shorter braking distance than an all-season radial and can improve collision avoidance by about 38 per cent. Research by both Transport Canada and the Automobile Protection Association also back these findings.

Other studies have tested road adherence. The vehicles that were equipped with winter tires had no trouble staying on track, whereas those with all season radials often ended up off the track, even at speeds of only 40 to 50 kilometers per hour.

Why is this the case?  Well for one thing winter tires have deeper tread grooves than all season radials so they provide much better traction on snow, ice and wet roads. Also, the tires’ compounds differ. With all season radials the handling and braking capabilities decrease in cold weather, but winter tires are specifically designed for the cold and snow.

Should you wait for the first snow fall before putting on your winter tires? No. Winter tires are designed to perform in temperatures below 7 degrees Celsius so the best thing to do is to make sure you have them on by Halloween and take them off when the warmer weather arrives, usually sometime in late April.

The answer to the question “should you get winter tires?” now seems obvious. They are an investment in safety and peace of mind.

Tell us your experiences with, or without, winter tires. Click on ‘Comment on this blog’ below and give 680News your two cents.

Everyday you invite us into your world.  We are in your homes and we are with you in your cars, trucks, vans and SUVs during your daily travels and commutes. We are the 680 traffic department and each day you tune us in for road information and advice. 

So we thought it was about time that we let you have a glimpse of our world … the world of the 680 traffic reporter.

As you know we report traffic every 10 minutes on the ones; 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. When something happens on the roads we often hear about it first from our traffic spotters. Thanks in large part to your dedication and assistance, people have come to depend on 680News to help them get to work, get back home again and just generally get around. Your calls are very valuable to us and our listeners.

Sometimes, due to the sheer volume of calls, we often do not have the luxury of being able to spend much time on the phone with each traffic spotter. There are often several problems on the roads that we need to cover, and we field hundreds of calls during a traffic shift. 

So when you call us with traffic information it would be very helpful if you could:

• Give us the name of the road or highway and the direction. (Also, if the problem is on the 401 for example, we need to know whether it is in the express or collector lanes.)
• Then we need the major cross street the problem is closest to and whether the problem is approaching, right at, or past that cross street.
• Finally we need to know which lanes are blocked and if any emergency crews are on the scene.

If we receive the information in a concise manner, it not only helps us with accurate reporting but it also lets us move on quickly to the next call.

Once again, thanks so much for taking the time to call the *680 traffic line. By working together we can ensure that timely and accurate traffic information is always available to all those folks out on the roads and highways, including you.