The best auto insurance rates in Ottawa go to those who compare.

Facts

• Ottawa roads are among the safest in the country. Efforts from all government levels, and many non-governmental agencies, reduced traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Ottawa by 50% over the past 30 years — despite a huge increase of drivers in Ottawa.
• If you think you've seen all of Ottawa, look down — there's an entire city beneath your feet. Ottawa is home to an extensive "underground city": tunnel networks through Carleton University, an underground passageway in the downtown business district, and a rapid transit line currently in construction.
• The urban transit service of Ottawa, called OC Transpo, has its own bus rapid transit (BRT) system. This high-frequency bus service runs on the transitway and boasts a network of separate roadways for OC Transpo buses.

Myths

• A larger population means more accidents in Ottawa. False. You'd think that in a city like Ottawa, accidents would be among the highest in the country, but that couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, Ottawa has one of the lowest accident rates in the country.
• Heavy winter snowfall means more accidents. False. Even though Ottawa gets about 224 centimetres (or 88 inches) of snowfall every year, drivers in the city know how to cope with the white stuff.
• When driving in Ottawa, you can skip the winter tires and use all-seasons tires instead. False. All-season tires may seem convenient, but when you're driving in Canada, and especially in snowy Ottawa, there's no such thing as tires for "all seasons".

1. Watch out for those snow banks. If there are snow banks on your lawn, you need to be careful when you're pulling out of the driveway. It's easy to get clipped by a passing vehicle if piled-up snow blocks your view.
2. Watch out for deer or other wildlife on the road.​ There are 1,000 wildlife/vehicle collisions every year in Ottawa — that's more than in any other area in Ontario. Look for yellow wildlife warning signs or light reflections from animals' eyes. The best way to stay safe is to reduce your speed so you have time to react appropriately.
3. Be careful when you stop at an intersection. Nearly half of Ottawa's traffic collisions occur at intersections. Obey stop signs and make sure to brake behind the painted bars — that means no rolling stops. Remember to also make eye contact with other intersection users. It's never a good idea to assume it's safe to proceed after stopping.