Tag Archives: Canada Day driving

Safe Travels for a Festive Canada Day Weekend

Winnipeggers, your time has come!

The open road this (long) weekend beckons families before moms and dads separate from sons and daughters. Cottage country and lake life has never looked so serene.

Getting to your destination, however, comes with its challenges. Having Suzie and Sam in the back seat is certainly a blessing when you consider just how few trips you get together, especially as they get older; but as amazing as these trips are, they can also be hazardous for your highway driving.

Consider statistics reported by Medical Today. a study by the Monash University Accident Research Center found that drivers were 12 times more distracted by their kids than by cell phones, and spent more than 3 minutes of a 16-minute trip looking at or talking to their offspring.

So when you’re driving, remember – when the fuss begins, it’s better to pull over than to threaten, less you end up in trouble and require roadside assistance.

Enjoy the Long Weekend but Drive Responsibly

With Canada Day’s long weekend upon us, there’s going to be a lot of traffic both within Winnipeg and heading out to cottage country.

Whether you’re heading north to the Interlake or east to Seven Sisters, converging at The Forks or Kildonan Park, you’re bound to enjoy not only your destination point, but the travel as well. There’s something about the long weekend that relaxes us in a way that just can’t be explained.

With this in mind, however, it is important to caution that this is one of the heaviest weekends for driving. Roads will be congested, and its important to have your head on your shoulders. As much as we will at times joke about bad Winnipeg drivers, there is a touch of reality – not everyone uses turn signals, not everyone has their eyes focused on the path in front of them.

To ensure your family arrives to and from your celebration points safely, and doesn’t have to call us for a tow, please take the following precautions:

1. Don’t drink and drive – We can’t emphasize this one enough. With hotter conditions and potential rainfall, impaired driving becomes even more dangerous. Even if you think you’re below the legal limit, don’t get behind the wheel or plan in advance to have someone be your designated driver.

2. Watch out for cyclists – Bicycles are out in droves now and there will be even more this weekend, especially if weather is optimal. This includes on residential roads, main streets and highways. Be cautious and share the road.

3. Distribute before you drive – What distracts you most while driving? It’s actually your kids (check out this story from ABC). Make sure they have their food and drinks beside them before you head on the road so you’re not passing back and forth while driving.

From all of us at Dr. Hook, Happy Canada Day!