Canada’s roads are as safe as any in the world, and safer than most. As with all things, a little common sense on Canada’s roads goes a long way. DRIVING CONDITIONSCanada is big. Visitors from outside the United States often can’t believe how far it is from one place to another. It is one thing to look at it on a map. It’s quite another to drive for hours without seeing anything but wheat. Make sure you know how far it is to where you are going in hours, then double it and make sure you have enough stuff to cover you until you get there. If you are travelling in winter, it is a good idea to call ahead and let people know when you are expected. It’s also a good idea to take clothing suited to the weather, just in case. Do you really want to be changing a tire in office attire when the temperature outside is -20?Weather is major in Canada. Most Canadian drivers are comfortable with all-weather driving, though traffic will slow down for snow, fog, and heavy rain. The closer you are to a major city, the better the condition of the roads, but the more likely its drivers will be caught off guard by snowfall. The 400 series highways are kept in excellent condition year-round except during heavy snowsqualls, when the 402 is often closed due to poor visibility and heavy snow. They aren’t kidding. In the places where the road is not closed yet, I have seen 2 metre drifts halfway across the highway. If the weather calls for snowsqualls, drive with caution in southwestern Ontario, since the visibility can change from clear to zero with very little warning.If you aren’t from the plains states, you probably won’t be prepared for the effect of extreme weather on your car. At extremely high temperatures, exposed metal surfaces can burn you, and the sunshade across the window is worth its weight in gold. At extremely low temperatures, cars don’t like starting, and tires go ka-lunk ka-lunk until they have warmed up enough that the rubber starts loosening up again. If you must park your car outside, ask about block heaters. In both cases, keep a close eye on your fluid levels. You don’t want to be running out of engine coolant when it’s hot enough to fry an egg on the hood.When driving through the Rocky Mountains or in northern Ontario or Quebec, be prepared to change your route in case of rock slides. The mountain passes are sometimes closed due to avalanche. Elsewhere the freeze-thaw cycle, sometimes several times a winter, creates potholes. Road crews try, but they simply can’t Category:Home › Home • Will higher gasoline prices mean lower sales for new cars? — part 2 • Will higher gasoline prices mean lower sales for new cars? — part 1 • Should the crew of the Sea Shepherd board whaling ships? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 13 • Grandparents: Can blogging chronicle your genealogy? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 12 • Are teachers unions the cause of public school problems today? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 11