According to multi-national Samsara, we’ve got the most dangerous road in Ontario when it comes to driving in the winter.
Erieau Road.
I’m on that stretch of asphalt every week. It’s early in the winter driving season and when I read the claim, I was skeptical. And then I drove along it with the snow blowing just last week.
My route takes me across parts of South Kent each week. My first encounter with blowing snow for the 2025-26 winter driving season took place on Merlin Road. The community of Merlin had substantially more snow than what we’d received in Chatham. Just south of Merlin, the streaks of blowing snow began leaving small drifts across the roadway.
That amplified. I was down to 65 km/h on an 80 km/h road. Ice and blowing snow made the driving…interesting, especially with a strong and gusting cross wind.
Talbot Trail was a smooth drive, but Erieau Road on this day became “Merlin Road Lite.”
There were areas that were snow covered, and parts with drifting, as well as spots that had trees or buildings on the west side of the road – where the wind came from on this day – that were clear.
As I approached Bisnett Line from the south, I noticed a plow heading east along Bisnett. I figured it would turn down Erieau Road, either to the north or south.
It did not. It continued along Bisnett, I am guessing on a predetermined patrol path, or to a road what might have been in greater need of attention than Erieau Road.
When I got back on Talbot Trail, I realized Erieau Road can indeed be a dangerous stretch, but no more so than so many other north-south roads in Chatham-Kent. I would think Highway 40 between Chatham and Wallaceburg would have greater risk potential. But, due to traffic volumes, it very likely gets higher attention from plows.
I will remind motorists we are in winter-driving season (as if the snow is not obvious enough) and please adjust your driving habits accordingly. That includes planning for time to clear off one’s vehicle and for the trip to take a bit longer because of road conditions.
Less haste means less waste.
As for Samsara, the company provides online platforms to help businesses with operations such as transportation, construction and logistics to improve safety and efficiency.
It analyzed its proprietary Canada-based crash data from 2022–2025 to determine seasonal crash rates based on kilometres driven. It identified hot spots based on accident clusters on a singular road/ highway.
And Erieau Road topped the list in Ontario. It finished ahead of the morass that is the Highway 401/403/410 interchange area in Mississauga, which is rife with elevated and curving ramps and exposed to the elements as a result.
Placing third on Samsara’s list was the Burlington Skyway. I would NOT want to be on that long, elevated bridge in a howling snowstorm. I’d take Erieau Road any day of the week, thanks.
Just a word to clarify the above comments, which I do find very interesting in referring to Erieau Road as one of ontario’s most dangerous roads. But to be clear, let’s not blame the road, as its just infrastructure that is there physically, no road is any more dangerous that another, situations such as weather, and driving habits dictate what happens on a road, so let’s call this one of Ontario’s most challenging drives.
As a 30 + year road maintenance foreman I can say without a doubt that any vehicle you see in the ditch, and myself included, it was not the “road” that put us in there, but the decisions made while navigating the road as to the conditions. If your travelling to fast for the conditions, preoccupied with something other that driving, its gonna, at some point, bite you in the @ss and away ya go. Anyone’s best defense in staying safe driving during severe weather is to not travel if you don’t have to, if you do slow down, even if you have to slow to 30 or 20 km/h (hazzard light on) any speed that the driver feels safe at, yes there are going to be some that think they are invincible and blow by you, don’t sweat it, you can wave to them on your way by when you see them on there lid in the rhubarb!
One more note, and one concerning roads alike Erieau Rd. Following a storm, even where the pavement is bare and dry pay close attention as drifting can still present a significant hazard on its own, while municipal, provincial, plow and or plowing contractors are diligent, and from what I have see on Erieau Rd. they are, they don’t have crystal balls to tell them what happening, where, so let give them guys some slack as well, after all, they are the ones out there driving the roads, putting their lives at risk, when nobody should be out there.
God bless and safe travels to all.