Highway 401 near London can go from clear to near-whiteout faster than drivers expect, especially in open stretches with little wind break. Here’s what actually helps if you’re caught in it.
Slow down before you need to. Reduce speed well below the posted limit — traction and stopping distance both suffer badly on snow and ice, and matching “normal” highway speed in a storm is one of the most common causes of multi-vehicle collisions on the 401.
Increase following distance significantly. The usual 2-3 second gap isn’t enough; give yourself much more room, since stopping distances can double or triple on snow-covered pavement.
Keep your lights on and your windshield clear. Low visibility cuts both ways — you need to see, and you need to be seen. Use low beams in snow (high beams reflect off falling snow and reduce visibility further).
Avoid sudden moves. No hard braking, no sharp steering. Smooth, gradual inputs keep your tires gripping instead of sliding.
Know when to stop. If visibility drops to the point where you can’t see the vehicle ahead, or conditions feel genuinely unsafe, look for the next safe exit or service centre rather than pushing through. Pulling fully off the roadway (not onto the shoulder of an active lane) and waiting it out is not a failure — it’s the right call.
We cover winter highway driving specifically in our Highway and Night Add-on sessions, and in more depth on our Winter Driving resource page.