As per the Manitoba Driver Hand book - Did you know : Speed Following Safely Emergency Vehicles • immediately moving clear of an intersection if you are stopped for a red light or stop sign. If blocking the path of an emergency vehicle, you must proceed through a red light or stop sign with caution, to clear the way; School Buses A school bus with flashing amber lights means it is about to stop. You must prepare to stop. You need not stop when approaching a school bus from the opposite direction of a divided highway, providing there is a physical separation such as a median between the two roads. However, you must slow down and watch out for children. A double solid line is not a physical separation. School and Playground Areas Watch for school safety patrols because they indicate that children are nearby. The patrols are easily recognized by their blaze orange vests. They play an extremely important role in directing children across streets. Poor driving conditions Ice, Sleet or Snow Suggested Emergency Equipment Important— Always ensure your vehicle’s fuel tank is full when driving under winter conditions. If you become stranded, your chances of survival are better when you stay with your vehicle.
A safe speed allows you to stop safely in emergency situations. Unless otherwise posted, the maximum speed limit is 90 km/h in rural areas and 50 km/h in urban areas. Poor driving conditions will require you to drive more slowly.
You are automatically at fault if your vehicle “rear-ends” another because you are responsible for maintaining a safe following distance—one which provides you with sufficient time to stop in an emergency. Use a four-second following distance when following under ideal driving conditions—allow more time under adverse conditions.
An emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call, will sound an alarm and use flashing lights. The alarm may be a horn, gong, bell or siren. The lights may consist of any of the following: a flashing red light, flashing red and blue lights or alternating flashing headlights. When an emergency vehicle (ambulance, fire or police), sounding an alarm and flashing lights, is approaching from any direction you must yield right-of-way by:
• driving as closely as possible to the right curb or edge of roadway; and
• remaining stopped at the edge of the road until the emergency vehicles have passed.
Whenever you approach a school bus with flashing lights or other warning device, whether you are approaching it from the front or rear, you must stop at least 5 m from the bus and remain stopped until the signal is turned off or the bus starts moving again.
You must drive slowly and be prepared to stop suddenly when a child is on or near a road, or close to a school or playground. It is illegal to pass another moving vehicle in a school area, within 15 minutes of either the opening or closing of classes or at any time when children are on the school grounds or near the road.
You are responsible for keeping full control of your vehicle at all times, even under poor driving conditions.
• Start out slowly and gently test steering and braking conditions.
• Reduce your speed to suit ice and snow conditions, and remember that even snow tires can slide on ice or packed snow.
• If your vehicle does not have antilock brakes, apply steady brake pressure without locking the wheels and losing steering control. (This is sometimes referred to as threshold braking.) If your vehicle does have antilock brakes, apply full brake pressure and hold. You will still have some steering control. Check your owner’s manual for the best advice to follow for your specific braking system.
• Increase the distance from the vehicle ahead of you according to road conditions. Remember that in winter your vehicle requires a greater stopping distance.
• Be alert to slippery patches, pedestrians, bridges (which may have slippery surfaces), blind intersections, snow plows, graders, etc.
• Keep windows and windshields clear of ice and snow, and make sure your defroster and windshield wipers are working properly.
• Keep your lights on.
1. Standard Emergency Equipment - shovel, tow rope or chain, booster cables, flashlight, first-aid kit, basic tool kit, flares and fire extinguisher.
2. Winter Emergency Equipment - all of #1 plus: hatchet, chains or metal mats, windshield scraper, snow brush, gas line anti-freeze, winter clothing, winter boots, winter hat, mitts and blankets.
3. Winter Survival Kit - all of #1 and #2 plus: waterproof matches, compact stove with fuel, candles, sheet of plastic or canvas, light rope, blaze orange flag, carbon dioxide indicator, aluminum foil, tissues, 1.5 kg metal cans with plastic lids, dry foods and soups, plastic utensils.
Personal Auntie Karen Note : It is in my personal opinion that a high visibilty vest would be a great addition to all of these kits!
12 Minutes Faster
Auntie Karen
12mins@mts.net