Winter Preparation

No one knows for sure what this winter has in store. But by working together, we can all be better prepared for whatever the season may bring. Below are some simple steps that everyone can take to help protect your property and ensure clearing goes as safely and smoothly as possible.

1) Trim any tree branches and shrubs that originate from your property. These can obstruct access and visibility for snow-clearing equipment.

2) Remove planters, lawn decorations and any other portable objects near the sidewalk before the winter.

3) Items like sports equipment that may still be used should be safely stored when bad weather is in the forecast.

4) Mark any permanent structures or objects too big to move with a reflector that will be visible above the snow. This helps crews identify obstacles.

5) Never park on the sidewalk and when parked in a driveway, make sure your vehicle isn't hanging over into the right-of-way. These vehicles are dangerous obstacles for crews and prevents the proper clearing of the sidewalks.

Businesses

In addition to the tips above, business owners should refrain from placing sandwich boards and other portable signs on the sidewalk during the winter months. These are obstacles for clearing equipment and can significantly hamper operations if the operator has to repeatedly stop to move the signs or salt and clear around them.

Never clear snow from your property onto the street or sidewalk. This is against Section 4(2) of By-Law S-300 and those caught will receive a summary offence ticket and a fine of no less than $100. This is a serious problem that can cause safety issues for pedestrians and other users, and it complicates clearing for crews. When this happens, crews are often forced to double back, delaying service on the rest of their routes. Residents or businesses can call 311 or fill out an online service request to report violations.

Parking

Previous winter seasons have taught us the importance of securing off-street parking during the winter months so that operators can safely and efficiently clear the streets. The overnight winter parking ban will be in place again this season and the city is stepping up efforts with ticketing and towing vehicles, with a greater focus on areas like bus routes, streets around hospitals and schools, and typically problematic areas for snow equipment and emergency vehicles.

The easiest way to know when the parking ban will be enforced is to sign up for notifications. Residents can also email a request to [email protected] or call 311. For those who signed up last season, you will continue to receive notifications when the ban will be enforced.

Vehicles on the street are not the only issue. Residents are also reminded that vehicles hanging out of a driveway or parked on the sidewalk during a storm or clearing operations are prone to damage and become a dangerous obstacle for crews. Such obstacles prevent crews from clearing the sidewalks properly, which can quickly become an issue for pedestrians, including seniors, people with mobility issues and parents pushing strollers.

Winter Safety Tips

• If at all possible, don’t drive during a storm. It’s much safer to stay at home and wait until conditions improve.
• Keep in mind that during a storm, major arterial routes are cleared first and salted more frequently than residential side streets and sidewalks.
• Watch for ice, especially on bridges, overpasses and in shaded areas of the roadway and sidewalks.
• Never assume that because the temperature is above zero that the roads are safe. Salt doesn’t work miracles and is not effective below -10 degrees Celcius.
• Adjust your speed to the conditions. Wet roads can freeze even if the air temperature is above zero.
• Follow at a safe distance. It can take up to 12 times further to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement.
• Never pass a plow when it is clearing snow from the road. Whiteout conditions are often created in the front of plows which reduces visibility and increases the chance of an accident.
• Keep your vehicle in top working order.
• Have a winter survival kit in your vehicle.
• Never plow or shovel snow from your driveway onto the street or sidewalk. This can cause problems for pedestrians, particularly those with mobility issues.
• Children should not play in the snow along the side of the road or anywhere a snow plow is likely to operate.