Waterloo Regional Police offering tips for a safe winter commute

Winter-like commutes have become frequent in Waterloo Region this week, and regional police are out with winter driving tips to keep commuters safe and on time.

School busses were cancelled on Monday and Thursday because of lake-effect winter storms passing through Waterloo Region. The Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region cited weather conditions as the reason for the cancellations.

In spite of those cancellations, Sgt. Scott Griffiths of the Waterloo Regional Police Traffic Services Unit commended local crews for keeping things moving mostly up-to-speed.

“The region, for the most part, handled it very well,” said Griffiths. “Snow clearing efforts by the region and by our cities and townships was exemplary. We were able to keep things flowing, unlike other regions to the north of us who had highways shut down.”

To prepare for winter driving, Griffiths recommends getting all the essentials packed into your vehicle before people head out. That includes making sure they are equipped with winter tires, a snow brush, extra windshield wash, and even a snack and water in case a closure leaves them stranded on a highway for hours at a time.

Griffiths added that even though getting stuck behind a snow plow can be a hassle on the commute, trying to pass one while they’re out clearing a snowy road can be both hazardous and expensive.

“It’s typically important for them to get their job done without being impeded by vehicles, and there are offences for cutting around [plows] on expressways or highways,” said Griffiths.

When planning for a commute on snowy days, Griffiths recommends adding 10 or 15 minutes to the scheduled drive.