For those who travel daily on dirt roads, advise may not be necessary. But for some, it's a new adventure. Whether it's a new shortcut or an old favourite routine, driving on gravel, especially freshly-poured gravel, can be perilous if not approached with caution.

Manager of Media Relations at SGI, Tyler McMurchy, said in Saskatchewan, the gravel and dirt roads can be unavoidable.

Gravel, of course, presents driving challenges different from paved roads and highways.

"The curbs are sharper, there's no shoulder, T-intersections, and sight distance might be shorter," he noted. "They really aren't designed to help you get out of trouble if you happen to be traveling faster than the speed limit."

McMurchy said the best way to stay safe on gravel, even under good driving conditions, is to stay under the posted maximum speed limit, and don't follow too close.

"Increase your following distance, obviously, on gravel roads, you're going to kick up rocks, so it's best to stay back a little farther," he said. "Whereas on a highway, you might be three seconds behind, on a gravel road you might want to extend that, it's best to allowm actually, six seconds of following distance on gravel, and if the conditions are less than ideal, leave an even bigger gap between your vehicle and the one in front of you."

Since gravel roads have less traction, oversteering, rapid braking, and speeding can cause your tires to lose traction, and you may find yourself skidding or drifting.

"If you find your vehicle start to drift, look where you want to go and steer there," advised McMurchy. "Ease off the accellerator, if you need to break, use gentle breaking so you don't skid."

"The best option, of course, is to not get in the situation in the first place, because oversteering at high speeds on a slippery surface is a recipe for a very serious collision," he added.

On the backroads, another danger to drivers is the cloud of dust kicked up by any vehicle.

"Be seen. Whether it's in the afternoon, or the evening, keep those headlights on," he said. "When you encounter other vehicles, slow down and pull over to the right as much as you can."

He added the tracks already established by other vehicles will offer the best traction.

Another aspect of dirt roads is encountering farm machinery.

"if you're encountering a large piece of farm equipment traveling between fields, you may have to stop and allow them to pass," he advised.

For some, the dirt roads are all they know, but for others, it's important to follow these safety guidelines to arrive safely at their destination.