Motorists were advised to use extra caution after Environment Canada issued a freezing rain warning for all of Eastern Ontario, west Quebec and the Ottawa Valley.
The weather office said freezing rain was expected to begin Tuesday evening and continue overnight, mixed with snow, into Wednesday morning, except near the St. Lawrence River where rain was expected.
With temperatures hovering at or just below freezing, ice was expected to accumulate on roads, parking lots and sidewalks.
The warning was issued for Ottawa and the surrounding regions, from Algonquin and Renfrew in the northwest to Prescott and Russell in the east and southwest through Haliburton, Bancroft-Bon Echo, Lanark, and Leeds and Grenville and southeast to Cornwall.
Ottawa police issued the following winter safety tips for motorists:
- Make sure to clear all ice and snow from your vehicle. Ice or snow that has not been removed can dislodge and fly onto other vehicles, causing injury or damage.
- Give yourself distance between vehicles. This will give you enough distance to stop and might give you time to react if ice or snow coming off another vehicle is heading toward your vehicle.
- Be cognizant that not all vehicles have the ice and snow removed, especially larger vehicles such as transport trucks, which might have ice and snow on the roof of their trailers.
- Reduce your speed and drive according to the road conditions.
- Allow more time to get to your destination.
- Winter tires and proper windshield wipers can make your drive safer.
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