A few practical things worth knowing if you're driving in Calgary through the winter, from someone who spends a lot of time out on these roads.
Keep a blanket, flashlight, phone charger, warm gloves, an ice scraper, and a bag of sand or kitty litter for traction in your trunk from October through April. Add water and some shelf-stable snacks too. If you're ever waiting on the shoulder for help, having them on hand makes a cold wait a lot more manageable.
Calgary's chinook winds can swing the temperature 15-20°C in a matter of hours. Snow melts during the day and refreezes overnight, which means the road can be clear when you leave and icy by the time you're driving home, especially on bridges and overpasses, which freeze before open road does.
Black ice is nearly invisible, but it usually looks like a duller, slightly darker patch on otherwise wet-looking pavement. It's most common on shaded sections of road, bridges, and overpasses, and in the early morning or late evening. If you feel the car start to slide, ease off the gas and steer straight. Don't brake hard.
A tire pressure or maintenance reminder light can usually wait until you're home. A temperature gauge climbing into the red, an oil pressure warning, or a brake system light means pull over safely and shut the engine off. Continuing to drive on any of these risks turning a repair into a much bigger one.
If your wheels are spinning and the car isn't moving, if you're stopped on a highway shoulder with poor visibility, or if a battery won't hold a jump a second time, it's usually safer and cheaper in the long run to call a tow than to keep trying. We'd rather get you a truck than have you stuck longer than you need to be.
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