‘Steer Before Braking’: Saskatchewan Safety Council Offers Winter Driving Course – Regina | The Canadian News

The Saskatchewan Safety Council is accelerating its annual Skid Smart Collision Avoidance program in Regina.

In a province where winter driving conditions can last three to five months, the course offers training to any driver who will hit the roads of Saskatchewan, including new Canadians, seniors, and even those driving to earn a license. life.

“It’s a very important skill for all drivers,” says Al Gall, a highway safety specialist for the Saskatchewan Safety Council.

Benson Akinbami, who first visited Canada from the UK in 2019, recognizes the need for a program like Skid Smart. He says he noticed there are a lot of accidents in Regina during the winter. “So my thought was, how do you avoid that?”

Statistics provided in an email from Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) show that Akinbami’s observation of accident frequency is accurate.

“Intersection collisions occur more frequently in the winter, although it is difficult to say if this is solely due to slippery conditions,” says SGI.

“When looking at the average number of collisions at intersections (2016-2020), from December to March it represents 45% of total collisions, while from May to August it represents 28% of total collisions.”

Gall says the training teaches drivers to focus on steering before braking.

“The first thing to correct with most drivers is not braking when turning,” he explains.

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“If something comes toward you from a side street, a car, or someone comes out of the parked cars, make sure you drive the vehicle first. Put it in a straight line and then start applying the brakes. “

Gall says that if you apply the brakes while turning, you can lose control of the rear of the vehicle. “It will start to spin and slide out of control.”

For Akinmabi, she says participating in the program taught her how to focus on weather conditions, such as obstacles presented by snow.

“Driving in winter conditions is very precarious. And while it is essential, it requires 1,000 percent of everyone’s attention, ”he says.

“Most of the time, if I’m not the one driving, I always hold onto my seat and think, ‘Oh what’s going to happen?’ That experience has always been with me and it doesn’t make you feel very confident. “

Thi Cam Van Mai, a fellow participant from Vietnam, says she found the program very helpful. “I’m just a newcomer here and this is my first winter so this course is very useful for me for winter driving.”

Driving in winter can be intimidating, even for the most experienced drivers. The Skid Smart program aims to give any participant a new confidence behind the wheel.

At the beginning of training, many drivers say they are afraid of winter driving, Gall says.

“Through the process of this training, we raised their comfort level so they feel more comfortable driving in winter and in slippery conditions,” says Gall.

The program generally runs Tuesday through Friday, but Gall says that if there is enough interest, an arrangement can be made to book the training on weekends as well.