Driving in Québec in the Fall: 15 Tips to Stay Safe and Prepare for Winter

Rain is one of the most common fall hazards. Even moderate rain can reduce grip, especially when the road has standing water or your tires are worn.

The posted speed limit is a maximum allowed under the conditions it was set for. It does not mean that speed is always safe.

On a wet road:

• Reduce your speed gradually.
• Avoid late braking.
• Leave more room between you and other vehicles.
• Approach intersections and curves carefully.
• Avoid driving quickly through large puddles.

Hydroplaning (also called aquaplaning) happens when a layer of water keeps the tires from staying in sufficient contact with the road. Your vehicle can then lose part of its ability to brake or change direction. The risk depends notably on speed, water depth, tire condition and road surface.

How can you tell? The steering may feel less responsive, and the vehicle may drift or feel as if it is floating.

What should you do if it happens? Stay calm, avoid turning the wheel sharply and gradually ease off the accelerator when the situation allows. Try to hold a steady path while the tires regain grip. If emergency braking is needed, use the technique suited to your vehicle's braking system.

The best solution is prevention: slow down in heavy rain and avoid places where water collects.

Fall leaves can be a hazard when they cover the road, especially after rain. A large pile of wet leaves can reduce grip and hide obstacles:

• a pothole;
• a curb;
• a manhole cover;
• standing water;
• part of the road markings.

The risk varies with the amount of leaves, how wet they are and the surface underneath.

In the fall, it is important to start slowing down early enough. A wet road can need more room to stop a vehicle, and an intersection littered with leaves can be harder to handle. Watch traffic lights, crosswalks and stopped vehicles well before you reach them.

The best prevention is to approach intersections at a speed that lets you react safely.

Icy roads are usually associated with winter, but the first patches of ice can appear as early as fall in some parts of Québec. After a cold night, a surface that looks merely damp can become slippery.

Places that need special care:

• bridges and overpasses;
• shaded areas;
• some rural roads;
• highway ramps;
• places where water collects.

Why do bridges get slippery sooner? Their structures are exposed to the air on several sides, so their surface can cool faster than some surrounding roads.

Cool, damp mornings can favour fog. It shortens the distance at which you can see vehicles, pedestrians and obstacles.

In fog:

• Slow down according to the actual visibility.
• Increase your following distance.
• Use low beams.
• Avoid high beams if their reflection reduces your vision.
• Use fog lights when conditions justify it and in accordance with the applicable rules.
• Don't blindly follow the tail lights of the vehicle ahead.

What if visibility becomes almost nil? Reduce your speed gradually and look for a suitable place, away from traffic, to stop if you can't continue safely. Don't stop in a traffic lane just because you can't see well.

In October and November, daylight shrinks. Late-afternoon trips can take place in the dark, particularly after the return to standard time. Rain and reflections sometimes make pedestrians and cyclists harder to see.

Three important habits:

1. Keep your windshield clean, inside and out.
2. Adapt your speed to the distance your headlights actually let you see.
3. Watch intersections, shoulders and crosswalks carefully.

Also watch for glare from a low sun. A dirty windshield can amplify reflections and make some obstacles hard to see.

Your car probably has daytime running lights or an automatic lighting system. But careful: depending on the vehicle, daytime running lights do not guarantee that the tail lights are on in every low-visibility condition.

In rain, fog or at dusk, make sure the appropriate lighting is on. A vehicle must not only let its driver see, but also be visible to other road users.

In Québec, drivers must be particularly alert for deer and moose. According to the Québec government, more than 7,200 road accidents involving large wildlife occurred each year on average between 2021 and 2024. About 90% involved a white-tailed deer.

The risk is especially high at dawn and dusk, notably in October and November (and also in June and July).

Where should you be alert? Near forests and waterways, in rural areas and anywhere signs warn of possible animals.

If you see an animal:

• Reduce your speed in a controlled way, watch both sides of the road and get ready to brake.
• Brake progressively and tap the pedal repeatedly to warn the drivers behind you.
• Use the horn to encourage the animal to flee.
• Avoid a sudden maneuver to go around it: you could lose control, leave the road or hit an oncoming vehicle.

One animal can be followed by another. Collisions with a moose can be especially serious because of its size.

Back-to-school season, lower light and damp conditions call for extra vigilance in residential neighbourhoods. A pedestrian in dark clothing can be hard to see at dusk, especially when the road reflects the surrounding lights.

Near schools, intersections and crosswalks:

• Respect the applicable speed limits.
• Reduce your speed when visibility is poor.
• Check your blind spots before turning.
• Anticipate children's movements.
• Pay special attention to cyclists in adjacent lanes.
• Follow the signals and rules concerning school buses.

In the fall, many road construction sites can still be active in Québec. Drivers may meet narrowed lanes, temporary detours, height differences between surfaces and temporary markings. Rain can make some of these places harder to understand or to drive through.

Slow down, follow temporary signs and leave enough room for workers.

When you approach a stopped emergency vehicle with its required signals on, also respect the safety corridor: slow down, then move as far as possible from the stopped vehicle (change lanes if you can do so safely). According to the Québec government, failing to do so carries a fine of $200 to $300 and 4 demerit points.

Tires are the main point of contact between your car and the road. Their condition is therefore essential, particularly when the road is wet.

Check:

• tread depth;
• uneven wear;
• cracks and visible damage;
• the pressure recommended by the manufacturer.

Grooves that are deep enough help clear water and keep contact with the road. Falling temperatures can also lower tire pressure: measure it when the tires are cold and check the manufacturer's label, usually found in the driver's door frame.

Fall is the right time to book your winter tires. In Québec, vehicles covered by the regulation must have winter tires from December 1 to March 15, inclusive, with certain exceptions. But the regulation doesn't mean roads stay ice-free until November 30: winter conditions can appear well before December.

Winter tires must meet regulatory requirements, notably regarding their marking or the use of studs. The Québec government sets a legal minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm, but recommends at least 4.8 mm for the winter season. A tire can therefore be legally usable while offering insufficient winter performance.

Studded tires are also allowed from October 15 to May 1 for the authorized vehicle categories.

Cool fall mornings often bring fog on the windows. This condensation can shrink your field of view, sometimes before the car even moves.

Before leaving:

• Check that the wipers clear the glass well.
• Fill the washer fluid reservoir with a product suited to the cold you expect.
• Test the heater and the defroster.
• Clean the inside of the windshield.
• Check that headlights, turn signals and tail lights work.

Fog appears notably when humid air inside the cabin meets a window that is cold enough. Proper use of ventilation, defrosting and air conditioning, when available, can help clear this moisture.

Fall can hold surprises, especially on trips between regions of Québec. A trip can start in dry conditions and continue in heavy rain, in fog or near frozen surfaces.

Before a long trip:

• Check the Environment and Climate Change Canada forecasts.
• Check warnings, roadwork and road obstructions on Québec 511.
• Allow enough time.
• Make sure your phone is charged.
• Adapt your route to the announced conditions.