Winter Storm Blankets The GTA

Posted February 25, 2007 12:00 pm.

This article is more than 5 years old.

When 2007 started with temperatures well above the seasonal average, everyone and their meteorologist was screaming global warming.

But when February came, so did the frigid temperatures and a huge volume of snow, and before the month is over Old Man Winter will have at least one more hearty laugh.

Just before 6pm Sunday flakes started falling in Toronto’s downtown core, and though the first few minutes of what promises to be one of the winter’s biggest snowstorms were peaceful, the end result and aftermath may be anything but.

That was certainly the case on February 14th, when wind gave way to several centimetres of snow in one day, and had much of Toronto and its surrounding area buried under the wet white stuff.

And now Monday promises more of the same, despite the fact that the weekend started with temperatures around the freezing mark and barely a cloud in the sky.

But it’s definitely coming, the only question is whether Toronto’s ready?

“Goodness no,” admitted one Torontonian named Sean.

“It was so gorgeous with the sun … but it is Toronto so we’ve got to be prepared for anything.”

But being prepared is always an issue and a string of accidents on GTA roads Sunday evening proved not everyone was. A tractor trailer that slammed into the guardrail on Highway 400 was just one of dozens reported by Ontario Provincial Police, and delays grounded several flights at Pearson International Airport.

Hopefully city crews will be better organized. Salters and plows were on standby Sunday, and with a full 10 centimetres of snow expected to hit the GTA before the end of the day Monday, it won’t be long before they’re required to spring into action.

“We have 200 salters which will be going out initially and then if we see accumulations we’ll be putting out 600 plows,” promised the city’s road operations manager Myles Currie.

“We have 300 sidewalk plows as well.”

And the may need every single one.

The storm system responsible for the expected dumping has already left a trail of damage in its wake in several U.S. cities.

Both Chicago and Washington D.C. were hit with similar amounts of fresh powder in recent days and both cities experienced disturbingly dangerous road conditions and several vicious accidents as a result.

Here in Toronto the city crews will do their best to take care of the roads and keep things moving safely and efficiently, but in the meantime here are some tips on how you can do your part when driving during nasty winter weather.

They’re mostly obvious and based on common sense, but someone always fails to get the message. Don’t let that someone be you.

CityNews Weather

Winter Driving Tips

Leave a lot of room. Cops say a gap of at least three times the norm is the best way to ensure you can stop.
Leave extra time. You can’t get there as fast as usual, so either leave early or don’t expect to be there when you should.
Slow down. It’s obvious, but when you’re leaving that extra room, it’s tempting to speed up. Don’t.
Brake earlier. Don’t wait until the last minute to try and stop at a stop sign or a light. You may not be able to.
Starting is sometimes as bad as stopping. Accelerating on slippery roads can be as dangerous as putting on the brakes. Lightly step on the gas to get going after a stop, to avoid skidding.
Ensure visibility for both you and others. Clean off your back and side windows and your roof if they’re snow covered, and turn on your lights.
Look ahead. Scan several cars in the distance to ensure you know what those far ahead of you are going to do, increasing your reaction time.
Top up your tank. You could be sitting in traffic for a while, and don’t want to run out of gas.
Top up your washer fluid and keep an extra bottle in your trunk.
Check your heating and electrical system.
Check your battery and clean the terminals, especially if they’re more than 5 years old.
Use snow tires.
Don’t try to pass a snow plow. They’re slow, but they’re out there for a reason and will clear the road in front of you.
Take a cell phone. If you have an emergency or see someone else in one, you can use it to call for help. But keep off it during your commute if you can. Your attention has to be on the road.
If you’re worried about driving in these conditions, consider public transit.
Watch for pedestrians. You may be responsible, but sometimes they aren’t. They still tend to cross the road where there are no lights, and don’t seem to realize it takes you a lot longer to stop than it normally would.
Be patient. In the end, like the story of the “Tortoise and the Hare”, slow and steady really does win this race.

What To Do If You’re In An Accident

A lot depends on how serious it is. You should report the mishap to the police, but in winter conditions, you can’t expect them to be there anytime soon – if at all.

If the damage is minimal and no one is hurt, you can simply exchange information with the other driver and take your story to one of the city’s collision reporting centres within 24 hours.

Get the cars off the road A.S.A.P. and call a tow truck if necessary. You only need to involve police if:

There’s a death or serious injury.
The accident is a result of criminal behaviour (like impaired driving or a stolen car).
The mishap involves a T.T.C. bus or streetcar or a federal or provincial vehicle.
The accident involves someone who’s not insured or whose license is already under suspension.
It involves a vehicle or truck transporting dangerous goods, like chemicals.
If there’s serious property damage.