WINTER suRvIval guide
Snow Vocab
They say Inuit
peoples have dozens
of words for snow—
so too does the
weatherman when
it comes to wintry
road conditions
SenSorS vS. SnowflakeS
How to handle your car’s high-tech
features in snow and ice
increasingly loaded with high-tech devices designed to keep
us safe on the road. But these systems aren’t perfect—especially in harsh winter
weather. While technology can help us, the onus is still on drivers to make sure
we drive safely.
Our vehicles are
Blind-spot
monitoring
Sensors near the
rear bumper use
radar to determine
if another vehicle is coming up
alongside yours.
Winter Warning:
IllustratIons: Jason schneIder
Rain and snow
may confuse radar
signals, limiting
their effectiveness.
Most systems warn
motorists with a
signal light on the
driver’s-side mirror. Make sure it’s
free of snow.
lane-departure
Warning
Video, laser and/
or infrared sensors
detect visible road
markings to warn
you if you’re about
to unintentionally
cross them.
Winter Warning:
Sensors typically
have trouble
deciphering road
markings that are
faded—or covered
by snow.
ForWardcollision
Warning
A forward-facing
camera or radar
alerts you to take
corrective action
if your vehicle is
about to collide
with another. A
more advanced
version of this
technology, forward collision mitigation, can also
apply the brakes.
Winter Warning:
Like other radarand camera-based
tech, sensors can
be affected by
snow and ice. And
slippery roads
mean longer braking distances:
Even with a warning, your vehicle
may not be able to
stop in time.
tire-pressure
monitoring
Direct monitoring systems have
a sensor in each
wheel, alerting
you to pressure
changes. Indirect
systems monitor the rotational
speed of all wheels
simultaneously. A
tire that’s losing
pressure will spin
faster, and thus
trigger an alert.
Winter Warning:
Most winter tires
aren’t equipped
with pressure
sensors. So, if your
car has a direct
system, talk to
your tire manufacturer or mechanic
to see if sensors
can be installed.
With indirect
systems, you won’t
be alerted if all
four tires are
losing pressure at
the same rate—
which can happen
with cold winter
temperatures.
Back-up camera
Allows you to see
the area directly
behind your vehicle while it’s in
reverse.
“pavement Frost”
a buildup of frost that
reduces braking power
“driFting snoW”
Blowing snow due to
winds; may cause snow
to stick on road surfaces
and lower visibility
“sWirling snoW”
loose snow circling on
road surfaces; caused by
wind and traffic
“loose snoW”
less than 8 cm of
unpacked flakes covering the driving surface
“Heavy snoW”
More than 8 cm of
denser snow that can
cause problems stopping or passing
“snoW packed”
the entire road is coated
in densely packed snow
Winter Warning:
“snoW driFts”
Snow, slush and
ice can cloud the
camera lens. Wipe
it off before getting
behind the wheel.
“visiBility reduced”
small peaks of snow at
intermittent intervals
drivers can see less than
800 metres ahead
CAA manitoba
WintER 2016
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