The first heavy snowfall of the season catches almost everyone off guard. Visibility drops, the road disappears under white, and a drive you’ve done a hundred times suddenly feels unfamiliar. In Ottawa, where winter storms can arrive fast and stay for days, knowing how to handle heavy snow is a core driving skill. It’s also one new drivers rarely get to practise before they need it. Here’s how to prepare, how to drive when the snow is coming down, and what to do when things go wrong.
Heavy Snow Driving by the Numbers
Snow driving is easier to take seriously once you see what it does to grip, braking and road conditions in Ottawa.
| Finding | Why It Matters |
| Ottawa averages about 175 cm of snow a year, usually from November to early April. | You’ll likely drive in snow for several months, so winter skills are essential. |
| Snowstorms of more than 10 cm in a day normally occur about three or four times a year. | Heavy snowfall is a regular event, not a rare one. |
| Ottawa has at least 1 cm of snow on the ground for about 115 days a year. | Snow-covered roads are a normal part of the Ottawa driving season. |
| All-season and summer tires begin to lose traction below 7°C. | Grip can drop well before the first snowfall. |
| Winter tires can shorten braking distances by as much as 25%. | A quarter less stopping distance can decide whether you avoid a collision. |
| The usual 2 to 3 second following distance should be doubled or tripled in winter, to about 6 to 9 seconds. | Extra space is your best protection on a slippery road. |
| A tractor-trailer’s braking distance is four to ten times greater on ice than on a dry road. | Stay well back from large trucks, and never cut in front of them in snow. |
| Many Ontario insurers offer a 2% to 5% discount for winter tires. | Winter tires can partly pay for themselves. Discounts vary, so check with your insurer. |
Should You Be Driving at All?
The safest way to handle a heavy snowstorm is to avoid being on the road during it. If there’s a weather warning or reports of poor visibility and driving conditions, the Ontario driver’s handbook advises delaying your trip until conditions improve, if possible. You can also check road conditions on Ontario 511 before you leave, and stay off the road if conditions look bad.
⚠️ Warning: A trip that isn’t essential isn’t worth the risk. If the plows haven’t caught up, waiting a few hours can make a big difference.
Get Your Car Ready Before You Go
Most of your safety in a snowstorm is decided before you leave the driveway.
- Clear everything. Brush snow off the windows, mirrors, lights and roof. Snow left on the roof can slide onto your windshield or onto the car behind you.
- Check your wipers and washer fluid. Working wipers and topped-up washer fluid matter especially in winter.
- Check your tires. Cold weather lowers tire pressure, and worn tires grip less.
- Pack a small kit. Keep a snow brush, scraper, flashlight, blanket, phone charger and a few snacks in the car.
Winter Tires Make a Real Difference
Winter tires aren’t required by law in Ontario, but they matter. According to the Government of Ontario’s winter driving guide, winter tires improve traction and can shorten braking distances by as much as 25%. Transport Canada notes that all-season and summer tires begin to lose traction below 7°C. Install a full set of four, and look for the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol on the sidewall. You may also qualify for an insurance discount, so ask your provider.
How to Drive When Snow Is Falling Heavily
1. Slow down more than feels necessary
Many winter collisions happen because drivers are going too fast for road conditions. The posted speed limit is for ideal conditions, not for a storm. Lower your speed so you can stop within the distance you can actually see.
2. Leave Much More Following Distance
On snow, you need far more room to stop. A common guideline is to double or triple the usual 2 to 3 second following distance, which gives you roughly 6 to 9 seconds behind the vehicle ahead. Pick a fixed object, like a sign or pole, and count the seconds after the car ahead passes it.
3. Make Every Movement Smooth
Sudden moves are what start skids. Ontario’s driver’s handbook says to avoid sudden steering, braking or accelerating, and to make turns gently. Think of an imaginary cup of hot coffee on your dashboard and try not to spill it.
- Accelerate gently from a stop.
- Brake early and lightly, well before you need to stop.
- Slow down before a turn, not during it.
4. Keep Your Headlights On and Your View Clear
Use your low-beam headlights so other drivers can see you. High beams reflect off the snow and make visibility worse. If your windshield fogs up, use your defrost and keep your windows clear of snow and ice.
5. . Avoid Using Cruise Control
Ontario’s driver’s handbook says not to use cruise control in snow or other bad weather. On a slippery road, you need full control over every change in speed.
6. Give Snowplows Plenty of Room
Blowing snow and the ridge a plow creates can greatly reduce sight lines around snowplows. Stay well back, and don’t try to pass a working plow. They are clearing the road for you, and the safest place for you is behind them.
💡 Tip: If a plow is ahead, you’ll usually have better traction behind it. Stay back and let it work.
What to Do in a Whiteout
A whiteout happens when blowing or heavy snow makes it nearly impossible to see. The handbook advises increasing your following distance, staying alert, and looking as far ahead as possible. If you can’t see well enough to drive safely, slow down, turn on your hazard lights only if you must stop, and pull off the road at the first safe spot, such as a parking lot or exit. Never stop in a live lane.
What to Do if You Start to Skid
- Stay calm. Don’t slam the brakes.
- Ease off the gas.
- Look and steer where you want to go. Make small, smooth steering corrections, not big jerks.
- Brake gently once you’ve regained grip. If your car has ABS, press firmly and steadily, and don’t pump the pedal.
The handbook notes that braking or accelerating while steering can push the tires even closer to a skid. The best skid prevention is a lower speed.
What If You Get Stuck?
Don’t spin your wheels, which only digs you in deeper. Clear snow from around the tires and the tailpipe, straighten your wheels, and try rocking the car gently between drive and reverse. If you can’t get out, stay in your vehicle, turn your hazard lights on and call for help. If you run the engine for heat, make sure the exhaust pipe stays clear of snow.
⚠️ Warning: A snow-blocked tailpipe can let carbon monoxide build up inside the car. Check it each time you run the engine.
Heavy Snow Driving Checklist
- Check 511 and the forecast before leaving.
- Clear snow from the whole car, including the roof.
- Use four winter tires in good condition.
- Slow down and double or triple your following distance.
- Brake, steer and accelerate smoothly.
- Use low beams and avoid cruise control.
- Stay well back from snowplows.
- Pull over somewhere safe if you can’t see.
Build Winter Confidence With Professional Help
Reading about snow driving helps, but practising with a certified instructor helps more. At Premier Roads, our in-car driving lessons in Ottawa include winter driving habits like safe following distance, smooth braking and reading road conditions, so you’re ready when the first storm hits.
Ottawa Winter Driving: Snow and Ice Collision Statistics
Winter driving can make Ottawa roads significantly more challenging. City data shows 12,166 reportable collisions occurred on roads with ice, snow or slush between 2016 and 2020, accounting for 17.5% of all reportable collisions during that period. These figures highlight why drivers should slow down, leave extra following distance and remain alert when snow or ice is present.
Final Thoughts
You can’t control the weather, but you can control your speed, your space and your inputs. Prepare the car, slow down, stay smooth, and don’t be afraid to wait out the worst of the storm. These habits will keep you and the people around you safer all winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How fast should I drive in heavy snow?
There’s no single number, because it depends on visibility and road conditions. Drive slower than the posted limit, and slow enough that you can stop within the distance you can see. If the road is covered in snow or ice, a large speed reduction is usually needed.
2. How much space should I leave behind the car in front?
Leave much more than usual. A common guideline is to double or triple your normal 2 to 3 second following distance in snow, so around 6 to 9 seconds.
3. Are winter tires mandatory in Ontario?
No. Ontario doesn’t require winter tires, though they are strongly recommended. They can shorten braking distances by as much as 25%, and many insurers offer a discount for them.
4. Should I use cruise control in snow?
No. Ontario’s official driver’s handbook advises against using cruise control in snow or other inclement weather, because you need to control your speed manually.
5. Should I use high beams in falling snow?
No. High beams reflect off snowflakes and reduce your visibility. Use low beams instead.
6. What should I do if I can’t see because of heavy snow?
Slow down, increase your following distance, and look as far ahead as you can. If you still can’t see safely, pull off the road at the first safe place and wait for conditions to improve.
7. How do I get out of a skid?
Ease off the gas, look where you want the car to go, and steer smoothly in that direction. Avoid slamming the brakes, and brake gently once you regain grip.
8. Is it safe to pass a snowplow?
It’s best not to. Blowing snow and the plow’s ridge of snow reduce visibility, and plows often work in groups. Stay well back and wait for a safe, clear stretch of road.
9. What should I keep in my car for winter?
A snow brush and scraper, a flashlight, a blanket, a phone charger, water and snacks, and boots and gloves. A small shovel and sand or kitty litter for traction are also useful.
10. Can I practise winter driving before my G2 or G road test?
Yes, with a qualified supervising driver or an instructor. Practise smooth braking and turning in an empty, snow-covered parking lot to feel how your car responds. For guided practice, book a G2 test preparation session.
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