Toronto drivers warned to go slow, be vigilant on slippery roads

Toronto drivers are being warned to go slow and plan ahead before travelling into snowy conditions, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say, after “a busy 24 hours” for emergency personnel.

Slippery road conditions have led to “around 220” collisions and 120 incidents of drivers requiring tow trucks or other assistance in the last day, said Sgt. Kerry Schmidt on Monday.

“These collisions are absolutely preventable. Drivers for the most part are going too fast, not paying attention,” said Schmidt. 

“A very rude awakening for many people who weren’t prepared for winter weather.”

While the highways are “not bad” and have been “driven clear,” Schmidt warns residents to be cautious on sidewalks and inner city roads that have yet to be cleared of snow and slush. 

He says driving in winter weather “requires a new set of skills” that many residents don’t have much practice with. 

Schmidt recommends the following guidelines for drivers taking to the slushy streets this week:

“It’s just a cautionary tale for everyone to slow down, take it easy,” he said. 

Toronto saw up to 10 centimetres of snow Sunday, the highest same day record since 1937, said David Phillips, a retired climatologist.

Typically the city gets “a dusting of snow” in early November, he said, adding the first "significant" snowfall last year didn’t arrive until early December. 

But Phillips says the early snowfall doesn't indicate what kind of winter Toronto has in store. 

“This is kind of a dress rehearsal, but it's not necessarily an indicator that we're going to be in for a brutal winter," he said.

“Because next weekend we see … double digit temperatures and we'll get more rain this week than snow. So this will disappear."

According to Environment Canada’s website, temperatures are forecasted to warm up as snowfall on Monday transitions into rain through the week.