On Yellowknife roads in wintertime, Paul Simon's classic tune Slip Slidin' Away hits a little closer to home.
A sanding truck spreads gravel outside of the Multiplex on Thursday. About 4,000 cubic metres of gravel is laid in Yellowknife each year to make the icy roads less slippery.
Feb. 1, 2018
From December through April, city crews are at work daily clearing snow, grading and laying gravel to increase traction on Yellowknife's icy streets.
The city spreads about 4,000 cubic meters of gravel on its roads annually SA国际影视传媒� nearly enough to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools.
However, there is only so much the city can do to mitigate the effects of long, frigid winters on the city's roads.
SA国际影视传媒�Ultimately,SA国际影视传媒� said Ian Jack, of the Canadian Automobile Association, staying safe on the road in winter SA国际影视传媒渃omes down to good defensive driving.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒�Whenever possible, leave yourself extra time to get where you're going so that you don't have to rush, so that you can slow down, leave a half-decent distance between yourself and the vehicle ahead of you, because inevitably, there's going to be some sliding,SA国际影视传媒� Jack said from Ottawa on Wednesday.
SA国际影视传媒�If you're in a rush and cutting corners with your driving, (sliding) is more likely to happen.SA国际影视传媒�
Jack had some other tips to help drivers avoid slippery SA国际影视传媒� and potentially dangerous SA国际影视传媒� situations.
If you find yourself sliding, said Jack, steer into the skid.
Some people have been taught to pump their breaks in a skid, he added, but this rule doesn't apply to newer car models.
SA国际影视传媒�With ABS (anti-lock breaking system) breaks, you're supposed to press down hard and keep pressed down,SA国际影视传媒� said Jack.
SA国际影视传媒�You're not actually helping yourself by madly pumping the break during a skid.SA国际影视传媒�
He also recommends carrying a sandbag or large bag of salt in the back of your vehicle.
Not only does the weight help with control, but if you get stuck, you can spread some of the stuff around your wheels.
Winter road maintenance takes place during the early morning hours, beginning at midnight, to avoid conflicts with other vehicles and pedestrians.
High-traffic streets and school zones get top priority.
A snow-clearing schedule is posted on the city's website: yellowknife.ca.
