Police urged drivers to slow down and exercise caution Monday morning as Ottawa's first lasting snowfall of the season made roads slick.

The Ottawa School Transportation Authority reported about 26 buses experienced delays as a result of the road conditions, but no buses were cancelled.

Ottawa police reported more than a half dozen collisions during the morning rush hour, none serious.

Safety tips

Motorists can stay safe in the winter by driving safely.

  • Be aware and be cautious.
  • Slow down.
  • Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
  • Avoid sudden turns, sudden braking and accelerating.
  • Avoid situations where you may have to brake suddenly.
  • Always clear ice and snow from all vehicle windows and turn on your vehicle's full lights on.
  • Allow more time to get to your destination.
  • Ensure your vehicle's tire treads are in good condition and you have plenty of windshield washer fluid.

(Source: Ottawa Police Service)

Highway 17 reopens

Ontario Provincial Police had closed Highway 17 west of Deep River, Ont., Monday morning after a five-vehicle collision.

The injuries in that collision were also considered minor. Police reopened the highway at 10:23 a.m.

Light snow began to fall at 11:30 p.m. Sunday night and was steady until about 6:00 a.m. Monday, leaving a thin layer of snow city plows and salt trucks are working to clear.

The skies cleared the rest of Monday but temperatures remained below zero.

A high of -3 C was expected for Monday.