Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

Southwestern Public Health Logo

Contact Us
A - Z TopicsNewsroomLocations and HoursContact Us1-800-922-0096
  • Classes, Clinics and Services
    • Dental Clinics
    • Food Handler Certification
    • Immunization Clinics
    • Influenza (Flu) Clinics
    • Needle Exchange Program
    • Pregnancy and Baby Supports
    • Sexual Health Clinics
    • TB Skin Testing
    • Tick Identification
    • Well Water Testing
    • Quit Smoking
  • My Health
    • Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
    • Body Art and Personal Care
    • Child and Family Health
    • Dental Health
    • Immunization and Vaccines
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Food and Eating
    • Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
    • Mental Health
    • Physical Activity
    • Sexual Health
    • Vector-Borne Diseases
  • Community Health
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Enforcement of Smoke-Free Spaces
    • Environmental Health
    • Food Safety
    • Health Inspect
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Road Safety
    • Safe Needle Disposal
    • School Health
    • Walking, Biking, Hiking
  • Partners & Professionals
    • Child Care Centres
    • Congregate Living Settings
    • Educators
    • Food Service Operators
    • Health Care Providers
    • Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
    • Outbreak Status Reports
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Recreational Facilities
    • Southwest IPAC Hub
  • Reports & Statistics
    • Community Health Status
    • Evaluations and Situational Assessments
    • Evidence Reviews
    • Health Inspect
    • General Reports
    • Position Statements
    • Surveillance Dashboards
  • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Board of Health
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Corporate Culture and Values
    • Events Calendar
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Locations and Hours
    • News and Media
    • Performance and Accountability
    Click to view About Us
    About Us

Road Safety

HomeCommunity HealthRoad Safety
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email
Hands on car steering wheel

Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. Reduce everyone's risk of being injured or killed on the road by:

  • Following the laws and rules of the road
  • Always driving alert, sober and distraction-free
  • Driving according to weather and road conditions
  • Being aware of animals, cyclists and other vehicles

Distracted driving  

In Ontario, it is illegal for drivers to talk, text, type, dial or email using hand-held devices like cell phones. Learn more about distracted driving from the Government of Ontario.

Impaired driving

Impaired driving means driving any vehicle (cars, trucks, boats, snowmobiles, and off-road vehicles) while you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Learn more about impaired driving from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO).

Winter driving

Always drive according to weather and road conditions. Follow these driving practices to help keep winter roads safe:

  • Make sure your vehicle is winter-ready with a maintenance inspection before the first snow fall
  • Install four winter tires
  • Check weather and travel conditions before you hit the road
  • Look far ahead when you drive to recognize hazards in advance
  • Reduce your speed when roads are slippery or slushy
  • Be aware of black ice and that bridges and overpasses freeze more quickly and stay frozen longer than the road
  • Carry a winter survival kit with you when you travel

Visit Winter Driving: Shareable Resources from the Ontario MTO to learn more.

Bike safety

Drivers and cyclists both have responsibilities when it comes to sharing the road. Find safety tips for drivers and cyclists on our bike safety page.

Animal vehicle collisions

Visit the Wildlife Road Sharing Resource Centre to learn how you can avoid car accidents with animals.

Off-road vehicles

Effective July 1, 2020, Ontario has expanded the type of off-road vehicles (ORVs) permitted on the road, including allowing ATVs and off-road motorcycles on the shoulder of public roads where permitted. Learn more and find information about how to safely drive an off-road vehicle from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.

Subscribe to page updates
Community Health
  • Road Safety
  • View Full Community Health Menu
    Toggle Section
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Enforcement of Smoke-Free Spaces
      Toggle Section Enforcement of Smoke-Free Spaces Menu
      • Smoke-Free Housing
      • Smoke-Free Workplaces
      • Submit a Complaint
    • Environmental Health
      Toggle Section Environmental Health Menu
      • Air Quality
        Toggle Section Air Quality Menu
        • Open-air Burning
        • Beachville Area Air Quality
      • Animal Bites and Rabies
        Toggle Section Animal Bites and Rabies Menu
        • Rabies
      • Drinking Water
        Toggle Section Drinking Water Menu
        • Boil Water Advisory FAQ
        • Municipal Water
        • Small Drinking Water Systems (SDWS)
        • Well Water Testing
      • Health Hazards
        Toggle Section Health Hazards Menu
        • Bed Bugs
        • Climate Change
        • Housing
        • Invasive Species
        • Mould
        • Rodents
        • Radon
      • Opening a Business
      • Recreational Camps
      • Recreational Water
        Toggle Section Recreational Water Menu
        • Beaches
        • Pools, Spas and Splashpads
      • Seasonal Housing Inspections
      • Vector-Borne Diseases
        Toggle Section Vector-Borne Diseases Menu
        • Ticks and Lyme Disease
        • West Nile Virus
      • Weather Alerts
        Toggle Section Weather Alerts Menu
        • Extreme Cold
        • Extreme Heat
    • Food Safety
      Toggle Section Food Safety Menu
      • Foodborne Illness
      • Food Handler Certification
      • Food Premises Inspections
      • Food Safety at Home, School and Work
      • Special Events and Farmers' Market Forms
      • Opening a Food Premises
    • Health Inspect
      Toggle Section Health Inspect Menu
      • Beaches
      • Child Care Settings
      • Drinking Water Advisories
      • Enforcement Activities
      • Food Premises Inspections
      • Hair, Beauty, Tattoo and Piercing Inspections
      • Infection, Prevention and Control Lapses
      • Pools, Hot Tubs and Splash Pads
      • Recreational Camps
      • Small Drinking Water Systems
      • Tanning Salons
      • Tobacco and eCigarette Retailers
    • Health Equity and Fairness
      Toggle Section Health Equity and Fairness Menu
      • Healthy Public Policy
      • Social Determinants of Health
      • The Cost of Eating Well
    • Personal Service Settings
      Toggle Section Personal Service Settings Menu
      • Opening a Personal Service Setting
      • Personal Service Setting Inspections
      • Health Inspect
    • Safe Needle Disposal
    • School Health
      Toggle Section School Health Menu
      • Agricultural Safety for Children
      • COVID-19 Resources for Schools and Child Care Centres
      • Educators and Teachers
      • Food in Schools
      • Getting Ready for Kindergarten
      • Healthy Relationships
      • Immunizations in Schools
        Toggle Section Immunizations in Schools Menu
        • Grade 7 Immunization Program
      • Meet the Healthy Schools Team
      • Mental Health in Schools
      • Oral Health in Schools
      • Parents and Guardians
      • Physical Activity in Schools
        Toggle Section Physical Activity in Schools Menu
        • Physical Activity Guidelines
        • Walking, Biking, Hiking
      • School-Based Vision Screening
    • Walking, Biking, Hiking

Contact Us

Work with Us

Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) values our people! We pride ourselves on our positive and flexible work environment.

Learn More

Southwestern Public Health footer logo

Southwestern Public Health strives to ensure the comfort and safety of staff and visitors by encouraging a scent free environment.

  • Classes, Clinics and Services
  • My Health
  • Community Health
  • Partners & Professionals
  • Reports & Statistics
  • About Us

Links:

  • Privacy and Records Access
  • Accessibility
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer and Terms of Use
  • Location and Hours
  • Sitemap
  • Website Feedback
Scroll to top of page

© 2020 Southwestern Public Health

Designed by eSolutionsGroup
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.