Driving fast and accelerating unnecessarily increases fuel and maintenance costs. Coupled with icy roads, it also increases your chances of a collision. Since more collisions lead to higher premiums, safe winter driving practices keep you safe and our rates down.
It’s worth noting that fully electric vehicles can lose 25% of their range or more in extreme cold. If you’re booking one of the three electric cars in our fleet, be aware that in the wintertime, it is best used for short-distance trips. Please have a look at the vehicle locations on our map and consider distance when making your booking.
A Few Tips for Winter Driving from Manitoba Public Insurance
• Avoid using cruise control. On wet and slippery roads, a skid while using cruise control will cause the vehicle to accelerate.
• Stay sharp – be a defensive driver. Beware of icy spots – bridges, overpasses, just before intersections and shady spots. Watch for other drivers who may be sliding. Slow down near vehicles stopped by the side of the road.
• Stay well back of snow plows. Never pass on the right.
• Prepare for severe conditions. Check road and weather conditions. Avoid winter driving altogether in severe weather, especially on highways.
When inclement weather makes driving downright impossible or dangerous, we will cancel your booking at no cost. Just give us a call!
• Learn how to recover from different types of skidding. Look in the direction you want to go, and take your foot off the gas and brake.
• See and be seen. Before leaving, clear snow and ice off your vehicle and wait for foggy windows to clear up. Turn headlights on during heavy snow or sleet. On sunny days, use the visor and/or polarized sunglasses. Advance cautiously at snow banks.
• Drive smoothly. Accelerate, brake, and make turns gradually and gently. Brake sooner.
• Keep plenty of following distance between you and the vehicle ahead. In ideal conditions, leave four seconds on city streets and six seconds on highways. In winter, leave considerably more.
• When there’s ice or snow, drive well below the posted speed limit, which is for ideal conditions only. Leave earlier to give yourself extra time for your trip.
Cancel at No Cost
We outfit every car, van, and truck in the fleet with winter tires, a scraper and brush, spare jugs of wiper fluid, and a snow shovel. If a blizzard hits and you cannot use your booking or the city recommends limiting all non-essential travel, we will cancel your booking at no cost. Call us to cancel.
