Winter driving etiquette: Do you know the rules?

Dear Editor, With winter weather upon us, I have a few suggestions for drivers.

Hazard lamps, or flashers, are for use when stopped or travelling much slower than other traffic. If all cars are moving at 30 km/h because of poor visibility or slippery roads, you should not use flashers. If you are travelling at 30 km/h or lower and everyone else is moving at 100km/h, you should use them. On many vehicles the flashers override the brake and signal lights. It is far more important in poor conditions that the drivers behind you see when you are braking or signalling than to see constantly flashing lights.

Most of us travel the same route each day. If your road has two lanes when clear, it still has two lanes even when lines are covered with snow please try to stay in them. Once the lanes are visible, even intermittently, it should be even easier to stay in your own lane.

If you are driving a truck, help the folks with smaller vehicles by driving through the drifts or deep snow to make a path and pack down the snow. Driving your truck a little off the wheel tracks will be easier than having to go around a stuck car or stopping to pull one out.

John McMurray, RR 2, Airdrie