Spring driving risks in Ontario are more serious than most drivers expect. When the snow finally melts, it’s tempting to exhale and assume the hard part of the driving year is over. But this guide breaks down why that assumption can get you into trouble. From roads still scarred by winter, to the return of motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians, to wildlife on the move and construction zones opening up — spring brings its own wave of hazards, and understanding them is the first step to getting through the season safely.

Spring Is Not as Safe as It Feels

There’s something about warmer weather that makes drivers relax. After months of white-knuckling through snowstorms, black ice, and reduced visibility, spring feels like a reward. The roads look clear, the sun is out, and the worst of the driving year seems to be behind you.

But here’s the thing: spring driving risks in Ontario don’t disappear when the snow does. They just change shape. And because drivers aren’t expecting them — because spring feels safe — they often go unnoticed until something goes wrong.

Think of it as the paradox of spring. The season that signals renewal and fresh starts also brings a new set of road hazards that catch even experienced Ontario drivers off guard. Roads are still recovering from winter. New road users appear almost overnight. Weather that looks pleasant can turn treacherous in ways that have nothing to do with snow.

This article breaks it all down, so you know exactly what to watch for this season.

The Road Itself Is Still Recovering

Potholes: Winter’s Parting Gift

Ontario roads take a serious beating over winter. Months of freeze-thaw cycles, water seeping into cracks, expanding as it freezes and contracting as it thaws, over and over again. The result is a landscape of potholes that appears almost overnight.

The scale of the problem is hard to overstate. According to the CAA’s 2025 Worst Roads campaign, 84% of Ontarians named potholes as their primary reason for nominating a road. More than 2,400 roads from 208 municipalities were submitted. Hamilton’s Aberdeen Avenue topped the list for the fourth year in a row, a city that repairs between 70,000 and 90,000 potholes every single year and still can’t keep up.

A pothole isn’t just a nuisance. Hit one at speed and you can blow a tire, damage your suspension, or lose control of your vehicle. When potholes are filled with standing rainwater, they’re invisible, you won’t see it until you’re already in it.

Practical tip: Increase your following distance in spring so you can spot road hazards earlier. Slow down on roads you know are in rough shape. If a pothole causes you to lose control and you’re involved in a collision, keep in mind that municipalities can sometimes be held liable for failing to maintain safe road conditions.

Black Ice Doesn’t End in Winter

Most drivers associate black ice with January. But late-season black ice, the kind that forms in March and April when days warm up and nights still dip below freezing, is arguably more dangerous precisely because people stop expecting it.

Black ice forms when snowmelt or rain refreezes on cold pavement overnight. It’s nearly transparent, it looks like a wet road surface, so drivers don’t slow down for it. Bridges, overpasses, shaded sections of road, and rural highways are the most common spots where it appears, and the most common spots where drivers lose control without ever understanding why.

If you’re thinking about switching your winter tires back to all-season in March, wait. Ontario’s MTO recommends keeping winter tires on until temperatures are consistently above 7°C, a threshold that Ontario regularly doesn’t meet until well into April, or later in northern parts of the province.

Sand, Gravel, and Road Debris

Winter road maintenance means tons of sand and gravel on Ontario roads. Once the snow melts, that material ends up scattered across travel lanes, particularly at intersections and on curves. For cars, it reduces traction. For motorcyclists and cyclists returning to the road in spring, it can be genuinely dangerous. A patch of sand on a curve that a car would barely notice can send a two-wheeled vehicle down in an instant.

Construction Zone Driving in Ontario Begins

Spring is when Ontario’s construction season gets underway, and it happens fast. Roads that were quiet all winter become active work zones almost overnight, with lane closures, shifted traffic patterns, reduced speed limits, and workers on or near the roadway.

Construction zone driving in Ontario comes with real legal teeth. Under the Highway Traffic Act, fines for speeding in an active construction zone are doubled when workers are present. And according to Transport Canada, speed cameras installed in construction and school zones have been shown to reduce fatal and serious collisions by 36% in those areas.

The rules in a construction zone are straightforward: slow down, don’t change lanes unnecessarily, watch for sudden stops, and keep your full attention on the road. The workers in those zones are counting on it.

The Spring Comeback: More Road Users, More Responsibility

This is where spring truly sets itself apart from every other season. The moment temperatures rise, the roads fill up with road users who have been absent since October, and both they and the drivers sharing the road with them need time to readjust.

Motorcycle Season in Ontario Is Back

Motorcycle season in Ontario typically begins in late March or April. For riders, it’s one of the most anticipated times of the year. For other drivers, it’s a reminder to start looking for two-wheeled vehicles again, something that, after months of winter driving, takes a deliberate mental shift.

The statistics behind motorcycle season in Ontario are sobering. In 2024, motorcycle fatalities in Ontario reached a 20-year high, with 57 deaths recorded — and that figure comes from MTO’s preliminary 2024 data. In 2021, motorcyclists made up 14% of all road fatalities despite representing a small fraction of road users. According to Statistics Canada’s analysis of motorcycle fatalities from 2016 to 2020, 31% of deaths involved alcohol or drug use, 28.8% had speed as a contributing factor, and 55% resulted from collisions with another vehicle.

As a driver, your role in motorcycle safety is significant. Motorcycles are entitled to a full lane under Ontario law. They’re harder to spot in mirrors and blind spots, they can stop faster than most cars, and they’re far more vulnerable in any collision. One practical note: many motorcycle turn signals don’t auto-cancel the way car signals do, so an oncoming motorcycle with its indicator on may not actually be turning. Always wait to confirm before proceeding.

Cyclists Are Back With Legal Protections You Should Know

With warmer weather comes a significant increase in cyclists on Ontario roads. Commuters, recreational riders, families on weekend outings. They all reappear in spring, and they have every legal right to be there.

Under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, cyclists are permitted to use a full lane when needed for safety, including when avoiding potholes, debris, or parked cars. When passing a cyclist as a driver, you are legally required to leave at least one metre of clearance between your vehicle and the bicycle. This is Ontario’s one-metre passing law, which came into force in 2016. Failing to comply carries a set fine of $110.

The numbers make clear why this matters. Cyclist fatalities in Ontario rose from 16 in 2021 to 24 in 2022, a 50% increase in a single year (MTO ORSAR). Spring, with its combination of increased cycling activity and roads still littered with sand and debris, is a particularly high-risk period.

Remember

Always check your mirrors before opening a car door on the street. “Dooring” — hitting a cyclist with an opening door — is a serious hazard and your legal responsibility to prevent.

More Pedestrians, Including Children

Spring brings people outside. School children, joggers, dog walkers, seniors out for the first proper walk of the year — all of them are back on sidewalks and crosswalks after a long winter indoors. For drivers, this means a significant increase in pedestrian activity at intersections, near schools, and in residential areas.

Ontario recorded 96 pedestrian deaths in 2023 and 106 in 2022 (MTO ORSAR). Seniors, who represent just 13% of Ontario’s population, account for 36% of pedestrian fatalities — they move more slowly and may need extra time to cross.

Key obligations for drivers near pedestrians in Ontario:

At a pedestrian crossover, you must come to a complete stop and yield the entire roadway, not just until the person clears your lane, but until they have completely finished crossing. Get it wrong, and you’re looking at a fine of up to $1,000 and four demerit points. (ontario.ca)

In school zones and residential areas, slow down and expect the unexpected. Children don’t always look before darting between parked cars.

Pedestrians wearing earbuds or headphones can’t hear your horn. Give them time and space, especially at intersections.

Spring Weather Is Not as Gentle as It Looks

The First Rains of Spring Are Especially Slippery

Here’s something that surprises a lot of drivers: the first heavy rains of spring are often among the most hazardous driving conditions of the entire year.

Over winter, oil, fuel residue, and other vehicle fluids accumulate on road surfaces. When the first spring rains arrive, those fluids rise to the surface and mix with water before the rain washes them away, creating a thin, slick film on the pavement that dramatically reduces tire grip. You won’t see it. You’ll just notice that your car doesn’t stop the way it should.

Environment and Climate Change Canada notes that heavy spring rainfall can also cause flash flooding in underpasses, drainage ditches, and low-lying areas within minutes of a severe thunderstorm. Their guidance is unambiguous: never drive on a flooded road. You cannot see the condition of the road surface under water, and the risks — engine damage, electrical failure, loss of control — are not worth taking.

Sun Glare. A Spring-Exclusive Problem

After months of overcast Ontario skies, spring sun sitting low on the horizon during morning and evening commutes is a genuine visibility hazard. Sun glare at these angles can completely blind a driver for several seconds, enough time to miss a cyclist, a pedestrian stepping off a curb, or a red light.

Clean your windshield inside and out. Keep a good pair of sunglasses in your vehicle year-round. And if you genuinely can’t see, slow down.

Daylight Saving Time and Tired Drivers

Each spring, Ontario moves the clocks forward one hour. Research consistently shows a spike in road collisions in the days immediately following the change — a result of disrupted sleep affecting reaction time, attention, and decision-making. If you’re driving in the week after the clocks go forward, leave a little earlier, be patient with yourself and other drivers, and avoid getting behind the wheel when you feel fatigued.

Wildlife Collisions in Spring Ontario: A Risk Most Drivers Underestimate

Wildlife collisions in spring Ontario are far more common than most urban and suburban drivers realize, and they can be deadly.

Ontario reports approximately 12,000 to 14,000 wildlife-vehicle collisions every year, resulting in around 400 human injuries annually. These collisions account for roughly 10% of all vehicle accidents in the province, according to the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program.

About 80% involve deer. Spring, particularly May and June, is one of the two annual peak periods for these collisions. Deer are on the move during birthing season, young animals are inexperienced near roads, and early spring vegetation along roadsides draws animals right to the roadway edge. Two-lane rural roads account for 89% of all wildlife collisions, and animals are most active at dawn and dusk, which overlaps directly with commute times.

Moose collisions are less frequent, but significantly more dangerous. A moose-vehicle collision results in a fatality 33% of the time, compared to 7% for deer — a reflection of just how large these animals are. A mature bull moose can weigh up to 500 kg.

If you hit wildlife

Wildlife collisions are reportable accidents in Ontario. Pull over safely, call the OPP or local police, and if the animal is injured, contact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. In serious cases, particularly moose collisions, speak with a personal injury lawyer about whether a claim applies to your situation.

Distracted Driving in Spring: The Risk That Never Takes a Season Off

Distracted driving in spring Ontario is one of the most consistent and growing threats on the province’s roads — and spring adds its own flavour of distraction to the mix. Construction sites are appearing. Cyclists and motorcyclists are weaving through traffic. Wildlife crosses at the edge of your headlights. And there’s an undeniable “windows down, music up” effect that warmer weather produces.

The data is stark. Distracted driving caused 82 deaths on Ontario’s OPP-patrolled highways in 2024 — a 43% increase from 57 deaths in 2023, and the highest count in six years (OPP / CBC News, 2025). In 2022, over 30,000 collisions involved distracted or inattentive drivers, resulting in nearly 11,000 injuries and 100 fatalities (MTO ORSAR). One person is injured in a distracted driving collision in Ontario every 30 minutes (ontario.ca).

Ontario law is clear: no hand-held device use while driving, no texting, no calling, no programming a GPS on your phone. Novice drivers (G1/G2, M1/M2) face a 30-day licence suspension on a first conviction. Fully licensed drivers face escalating fines and demerit points.

Spring is not the time to test those rules. The road is busier than it’s been in months, the hazards are new and varied, and the consequences of looking away, even briefly, can be serious.

How to Drive Safely in Spring Ontario: A Practical Checklist

Knowing the risks is only half the picture. Here’s how to drive safely in spring Ontario and come out the other side without incident.

Before You Leave

Don’t rush the winter tire changeover. Wait until overnight temperatures are consistently above 7°C before switching back to all-season tires.

Check your windshield wipers. Winter use wears them out quickly. Worn wipers in a spring rainstorm are a real visibility hazard.

Confirm all your lights are working — headlights, brake lights, and signals. Sun glare makes it harder for other drivers to see you.

On the Road

Increase your following distance. Potholes, debris, and wet roads all require more stopping distance than you’re used to in summer.

Actively scan for cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians at intersections, near schools, and at crossings, especially in the first weeks of spring when their return feels unfamiliar.

Slow down in construction zones. Fines are doubled when workers are present. It’s not just a legal requirement. It’s the right thing to do.

At dusk, dawn, and on rural roads, be alert for wildlife. Slow down if you see one animal, there are almost always more nearby.

Treat the first rainy day of spring like a winter day. The oil-water mix on roads makes them unexpectedly slippery before the rain washes the surface clean.

Put the phone away. Every time. Spring traffic is busier and the hazards are new. This is not the season to multitask.

Know Your Legal Obligations

One metre of clearance when passing a cyclist always.

Full stop at pedestrian crossovers, until the pedestrian has completely finished crossing.

No hand-held devices, ever. Ontario’s distracted driving laws are among the strictest in Canada.

Double fines in construction zones when workers are present.

Understanding Spring Car Accident Causes in Ontario

Spring car accident causes in Ontario follow a pattern that, once you understand it, makes a lot of sense. It’s the convergence of several things happening at once: roads that haven’t fully recovered from winter, a surge of new road users appearing almost simultaneously, weather that looks one way and behaves another, and drivers who’ve let their guard down because it finally doesn’t feel like winter anymore.

In practice, that translates to collisions involving potholes that appeared overnight, motorcycles that drivers weren’t watching for, cyclists given less than a metre of clearance, pedestrians at crossings that drivers didn’t stop for, and rear-end collisions in construction zones where drivers simply weren’t paying attention.

If you’ve been involved in a collision this spring, the cause matters enormously. Was it a road condition the municipality should have repaired? A driver who didn’t give a cyclist their legal clearance? A speeding driver in a construction zone who didn’t respect the reduced limit? A distracted driver who looked away at the wrong moment?

In each of these situations, there may be a legal claim available to you, and having the right support to navigate that process makes all the difference.

How De Rose Lawyers Can Help You After a Spring Accident

At De Rose Lawyers, we’ve been helping Ontario road users through the aftermath of accidents for over 40 years. We understand that no two accidents are the same, and we understand how disorienting it can be to deal with injuries, insurance companies, and legal questions all at the same time, often while you’re still recovering.

Our team handles the full range of spring-related accidents: car collisions, motorcycle crashes, cyclist injuries, pedestrian accidents, and more. We know Ontario’s roads, we know the laws that protect you, and we know how to hold the right parties accountable — whether that’s another driver, a municipality that left a road in disrepair, or an insurance company that isn’t offering what you deserve.

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case. From the moment you call us, we take on the burden of dealing with insurers, gathering documentation, and building the strongest possible case on your behalf. You focus on recovering. We focus on getting you the compensation you deserve.

TL;DR — Spring Driving Risks in Ontario at a Glance

Spring driving risks in Ontario are real and often underestimated. They just look different from winter hazards.
Black ice can still form in March and April when overnight temperatures dip below zero, especially on bridges, overpasses, and shaded roads.
Potholes are at their worst in spring. 84% of Ontarians flagged them as a top road issue in the 2025 CAA Worst Roads campaign.
Motorcycle season in Ontario brings increased risk: 57 motorcyclist deaths were recorded in 2024, a 20-year high.
Cyclists are legally entitled to a full lane. You must pass them with at least one metre of clearance. This is Ontario law.
Pedestrian deaths: 96 in Ontario in 2023. Seniors account for 36% of fatalities despite being 13% of the population.
Wildlife collisions in spring Ontario peak in May and June. Ontario sees 12,000 to 14,000 per year, 80% involving deer.
The first rains of spring are especially slippery due to accumulated road oils mixing with water on the road surface.
Distracted driving caused 82 highway deaths in Ontario in 2024, up 43% from the year before.
Construction zone fines are doubled when workers are present. Speed cameras have reduced serious collisions in these areas by 36%.
If you’ve been injured in a spring accident in Ontario, contact De Rose Lawyers — (416) 780-8080 — for a free consultation. No fees unless we win.

References

All statistics and guidance cited in this article come from official Canadian government sources or recognized national road safety organizations.

BOOK A CONSULTATION TODAY