(Calgary and surrounding Alberta) winter safe driving tips, emergency contact information, weather alerts, and road reports

Winter Safe Driving Tips

If the police and news reporters do say that driving is not recommended due to poor weather try not to drive, but if you got to drive here is some info to keep you, your passengers, and other people on the road safe.


Prior to driving in winter:

1. Get your car in the fall fixed and ready for winter 

2.  Install 4 matching winter tires

3. Pack an emergency kit in your vehicle (included in the emergency kit: blanket, mitts or gloves/ jacket/ warm hat, a bottle of water,  water proof matches, jumper cables, flashlight with batteries, emergency contact numbers [for example 9-1-1, AMA emergency road side assistance, Calgary Transit phone number, taxi phone number], non perishable snacks.)  For more ideas of what should be in the kit please visit http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/kts/cr-kt-en.aspx

4. Make sure you and your passengers are wearing proper clothing for the weather (for example if it's cold make sure everyone is wearing a winter coat, winter boots, mitts/ gloves, winter hat or hood, and a scarf).

5.  Learn how to drive safe in winter (for example take a winter driving course through Alberta Motor Vehicles Association AMA)

6. Plan your trip. Check road conditions prior to departure.

7. Give yourself extra time to travel.

8. Travel with a fully charged and working cell phone.

9. Tell someone you trust where you are going and when you are planning to return.

10. On slippery roads don't use your cruise control

11.  Give yourself extra space between vehicles

12. Slow down and make sure everyone in the car is wearing a seat belt.

13. Driving in winter is risky so be patient and alert.

14. Make sure you have extra warm clothes (for example coat/ mitts/ scarf/ hat) and a shovel in your vehicle trunk.  

15.  Carry some sandbags in your vehicle. They can be used as weights to give the vehicle more traction on icy roads, and they can be used on icy roads to help get your vehicle out of the area. If you need free sand from the City of Calgary please visit the link below 
http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/Roads/Pages/Road-Maintenance/Snow-and-ice-control/Sanding-material-pick-up-locations.aspx


15. Take a break from driving when needed in a safe and warm location.

16. Bring money in case you need to find an alternate form of transportation, make a phone call on a public phone,  buy food, or find shelter until the bad weather passes. Please note if you need to find a safe place to stay for the night you may need to use a credit card at a hotel since many of them don't accept cash or debit cards.

17. Give your self some extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you so that if you get hit from behind you can prevent your car from hitting the car in front.

For more information on how to stay safe while driving in winter please visit the websites below.

Winter Driving Transport Canada:  
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/safevehicles-safetyfeatures-winterdriving-index-693.htm

AMA Winter Driving Tips: 
https://ama.ab.ca/2016/12/01/recommended-winter-driving-tips


Weather Network's 11 things to carry in your car during winter: 
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/insider-insights/articles/12-things-to-carry-in-your-car-this-winter/15863/

To check out the weather conditions and road reports in your area please visit the websites below:

The Weather Network:

http://www.theweathernetwork.com

Yahoo! Weather Canada:
http://ca.weather.yahoo.com

To check out the road conditions please visit the websites and Twitter sites  below:

5-1-1 Alberta Road Reports:

http://511.alberta.ca/ab/en.html#l=36&x=-12627247&y=6802017&z=

Twitter (@511Alberta) : https://twitter.com/511Alberta?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
It's a good idea to carry an emergency kit in your vehicle. For more information as to what should be in your emergency kit please click on this link 
http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/kts/cr-kt-en.aspx

For emergency roadside assistance if you are a member of Alberta Motor Vehicle's Association  (AMA) or Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) please contact them using the info below.

AMA helps their members get emergency road side assistance when their cars have broken down on the road. Please note if you need roadside assistance from them you will need to provide them with your AMA membership number. Upon arrival of the AMA tow truck driver you will need to show him your AMA card and drivers license.

Their phone number is 1-800-222-4377 

AMA online road reports: 

http://www.ama.ab.ca/automotive/road-reports-other

You can access AMA emergency road side assistance online:
https://ama.ab.ca/auto-and-driving/roadside-assistance/


If you need a safe ride home while waiting your vehicle to be towed please tell AMA that when you call them. https://ama.ab.ca/auto/roadside-assistance/safe-ride-home

You can also use Canadian Automobile Association (CAA)  apps to access AMA Emergency roadside assistance and other AMA/ CAA related services

1) CAA Canadian Automobile Association app (Android users)

 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=a.envisionmobile.caa#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDIxMiwiYS5lbnZpc2lvbm1vYmlsZS5jYWEiXQ

2) CAA Canadian Automobile Association App (IPhone users)
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/caa/id478000941?mt=8

If you are in America you can use AAA since they are an affiliate of CAA. Their phone number is1-800-891-4222. 

 If you would like to use other forms of public transportation to stay safe while traveling during the winter months please check out the website below.

 http://publictransportation1.blogspot.ca

In case you need help finding your destination please pull over, park your vehicle and use either Google Maps or Map Quest

Google Maps:
http://maps.google.ca

MapQuest:
http://www.mapquest.ca/


For information on how to stay warm this winter please visit the link below. 

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-to-stay-warm.html

To go back to the home page please click on the link below.
http://wintersafetips.blogspot.ca

If you can't find the information you need on this website please check out the following website search engines:

Yahoo!: http://www.yahoo.ca

Search Hippo: http://www.searchhippo.com/

Google: http://www.google.ca

If you don't have good cell phone reception but you do have access to Wi-Fi (whether it be through your cell phone provider or due to being in free Wi-Fi Hotspot) here are alternate ways you can try to contact the people you need to communicate with.  http://emailandphone.blogspot.ca/2016/10/free-email-and-phone-programs.html.

If you need to contact Calgary Transit, AMA Roadside Assistance, or the various cab companies in Calgary please click on the link below to access their contact information:

http://publictransportation1.blogspot.ca/2013/11/taxi-info-calgary-transit-email-alerts.html

If you need a warm place to stay until the weather gets better please check out the link below.  It has contact info for various hotels, hostels, and drop in centers in and around the Calgary area. 
http://warmplacetostay.blogspot.ca/2013/12/warm-places-to-stay.html

***Please note if you are trying to call 9-1-1 it is best to use a  landline phone if you can do it. That way they can help you out faster. If you don't have access to a landline phone, use your cell phone. Make sure you have the address of where you are at (or at least the closest intersection/ landmark you are at) with you ready to give to the 9-1-1 operator so they can find you.


 Remember if all else fails and you stuck in an unsafe situation you can call 9-1-1, ask them to help you out, and give them as much info as you can about where you are and what happened.

Hope you all stay safe and have a fun winter season!