How to drive in ice and snow.

Posted Dec 17, 2008 by gman / comments 0 comments / Print / Font Size Decrease font size Increase font size

Winter driving conditions are here in most of the country. Make sure you drive safely in ice and snow.

  1. Be prepared: Before you set out in winter weather, make sure your vehicle is properly equipped. That means snow tires or chains in extreme conditions.

  2. Slow down: Driving too fast is the No. 1 winter driving error. Read the road to choose the appropriate speed. Slippery roads make every mistake happen faster and more dramatically. And don't think antilock brakes, stability systems or other vehicle control mechanisms will help you if you're sliding. If you're going too fast, you're going to go off the road and nothing's going to change that.

  3. Look ahead: Winter drivers need to use their eyes more effectively. Not only should you be aware of road ice and other slippery conditions, but you should also double the distance you normally allow between you and the car in front of you. An easy calculation for this distance is four car lengths for every 10 mph you are traveling. That means if you are doing 40 mph, you should leave 16 car lengths between you and the vehicle ahead. Also look ahead and get ready for corners and other obstacles before you arrive at them. A good driver looks ahead and anticipates problems. An inattentive driver doesn't watch the road and is forced to react to problems, usually abruptly.

  4. Brake before you enter a corner: Smoothly apply your brakes before you reach a corner and then release the brakes and use all the grip of the car to corner. Then, once you are through the turn, accelerate out. Enter a corner with too much speed and then try to adjust in the corner and you will lose grip. When the wheels are braking, their surface becomes static and they can behave like four hockey pucks and can move multidirectionally (that is: spin). If that happens, you will likely lose control of your vehicle. 

  5. Practice the smooth and effective use of the vehicle's controls: The steering wheel gives people the most trouble. The result of bad steering wheel control is that your vehicle will become imbalanced. Once that happens, you'll probably skid. Therefore, it's important to stay in control of your vehicle's weight distribution. That takes some understanding of your vehicle's physical dynamics. 

  6. Be informed: Regardless of whether your vehicle is rear-wheel, front-wheel or all-wheel drive, the results of a loss of balance are the same. What you need to understand is where the bulk of your vehicle's weight resides and how your engine power can affect that weight. In a pickup, all the weight is in the front with the engine and the cab, so, with little weight over them, the rear wheels have tenuous grip and the back end can easily slip out. Likewise, a rear-wheel-drive musclecar, such as a Ford Mustang GT, has a lopsided power-to-weight ratio, so its back end is also prone to losing grip on slippery roads. A front-wheel-drive, front-engine sedan, such as a Honda Accord, also has a light rear, so that if you abruptly lift off the accelerator in a corner, all the weight shifts to the front and the rear has little grip. The result can be that the car will pull to the side in a corner and spin out. 

  7. Learn how to control a skid: Turn into the skid. You also need to accelerate. People don't think about accelerating to control the car. However, many oversteer skids can be controlled and a disaster averted simply by releasing the brake and gently accelerating. This transfers the weight from the front to the rear wheels, which allows you to steer into the direction of the skid, gain control of the vehicle and continue safely on your way. If you drive a rear-wheel-drive vehicle be careful not to over-accelerate or the tires may spin and you will oversteer and slide out of the turn. In an understeer skid (when your car refuses to turn and is sliding), once again it's important not to react instinctively by over-correcting the steering wheel, by braking or by doing both simultaneously. Understeering is usually caused by entering a corner too quickly and then turning. To turn the vehicle effectively, your wheels need grip. If you react to an understeer skid by turning more, you're only asking for more grip, which is unavailable. The same is true if you brake. Instead in an understeer skid, carefully adjust your steering wheel until you regain some grip at the front wheels. Once grip is restored, gently and precisely add steering. Of course, this requires room to maneuver, but if you adhere to point No. 3 above, you should have plenty of room.

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