With the forecasted snowfall Wednesday and Thursday, Halifax Regional Police is sharing some winter safety tips to help road users be winter ready.
Vehicle maintenance
- Plan ahead to ensure your vehicle is roadworthy.
- Check your safety inspection sticker and the tread on your tires.
- Keep a snowbrush or ice scraper in your vehicle and consider topping up your vehicle with extra windshield washer fluid.
- It’s also a good idea to have a shovel and/or a bag of salt or sand in your vehicle in case you get stuck.
Driving safely for the road conditions
- Stay up-to-date with the weather conditions.
- Visibility is key. Before you hit the road, clear all snow from the roof, hood, license plate, windows, mirrors, lights, turn signals and cameras of your vehicle. Scrape/defrost your windshield if necessary.
- Be mindful that winter conditions can create challenges for pedestrians who may need to walk in the roadway to avoid snow-covered or icy sidewalks.
- Never drive distracted. Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. Watch for other road users, pedestrians and cyclists.
- Adjust your speed to the conditions. Leave extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you so that you can safely slow down and/or stop. Remember not to accelerate or brake too quickly when the roads are slippery.
Parking
- Think before you park on the street. When and where you park in the winter can have a big impact on clearing streets and sidewalks, which, in turn, can affect road safety. In Nova Scotia, vehicles can be towed at anytime during the day or night on any day of the year if they are interfering with snow clearing operations, as per Section 139 of the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act. In addition, the municipal overnight winter parking ban is in effect every year from Dec. 15 to March 31. It will be enforced only during declared weather events and ongoing clearing operations. When enforced, the parking ban is in effect from 1 a.m. until 6 a.m. throughout the Regional Centre of the municipality.
- To help make a responsible parking choice, ask yourself:
- Is the overnight parking ban currently being enforced?
- Is your vehicle causing a safety issue?
- Is it making the road impassable?
- Is it impeding snow operations underway in the area?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, do not park on the street.
