How to drive in the snow.
 

What I've learned over the years about driving in the snow.
Not to preach, but when I first started to drive I wish someone had taught me these things.

1) Listen to the weather report, if they are calling for six inches ( and you get six inches ) and your car had a ground height of four inches, don't expect to be going anywhere when the snow ends until the roads are plowed.

2) Keep the moisture outside the car, clean the snow off your boots when getting in the car, particularly if you have rubber floor mats. Condensation builds up inside quickly.

3) Cars heading uphill have the right-of-way, harder to get up a hill. If heading down hill be courteous and acknowledge the person trying to get up the hill.

4) Read your owners manual about gear selection on downhill runs. So much to know about downhill slippery conditions I wouldn't begin to preach.

5) Keep a shovel in your car. If your health is an issue someone else can use it.

You're probably enjoying the same snow today that I am!

I'd also add getting a good set of snowtires to that list. I bought a set last year and they make an invaluable difference!!

And get a car with traction control (ASR). I never had that before. WOW, really works! I am impressed. I have gone right up icy parkling lots without any complaint. The ASR light blinks and the car just goes right up. Amazing!!
Maybe I just got lucky!

Mike

If sliding on ice and you don't have ABS....(my dad taught me this last year... You lock the tires, then, with the wheels still locked, turn the steering wheel to where you want to go. once the wheel is pointed where you want the car to go, release the pedal and feel the car turn. This does still work with ABS, but just not as drastically. Naturally, this won't work so well at 50, but if you're going relatively slow, like under 25 or so, it works wonders. Plus, it's fun to do just for the heck of it. Also, you have to get over your natural instinct to just hold the brake down when trying to turn.
Thanks, hope this helps somebody sometime...
David

Extra stress on the snow tire requirement. Anyone who buys into the unwritten and highly erroneous conventional wisdom that all-seasons will get them safely all the way through a typical US winter is just delusional. Its just not worth the risk. This applies to front and all-wheel drive as well. I have seen plenty of front drive and all wheel drive cars struggle all over the place, just because of the tires.

With the current state-of-the-art pure winter snows available from all the manufacturers, there is no excuse not to buy a set of 4 and slap 'em on with an extra set of cheap steel wheels or other alloys. HUGE difference. We use unstudded Nokians on both our RWD vehicles.

Um, I don't understand how locking a wheel that is rolling, turning it and then unlocking it will help you turn better. Also, isn't the big benefit of ABS that you can steer because the wheels don't lock? :confused:
It may be fun for the heck of it. So is power-induced oversteer on RWD cars, also called fishtailing. I've been told, understand, and practice separation of braking and turning. Braking in a straight line without adding steering input until you've slowed to cornering speed, then ease off brakes and ease in steering input to start the turn.

Braking while cornering may be a natural instinct, 'cause I see a lot of brake lights in a corner, but it's not good form even on dry pavement.

I don't see how your dad's method would help, could you explain better? Thanks.

Best Regards,
Jim

Bah if you know how to dive in the snow all seasons are fine. I have passed many trucks in my fwd Toyota with cheap all season tires. Sure winter tires are probably better, but knowing how to drive in the snow is to. I was driving the SDL in 2-3 of fresh snow last week and the ABS only came on once. A few weeks ago we took my friends E300D out in the snow and a big suv was ridding us. He slide out and almost smacked a sign. :rolleyes: Unfortunitly he left before we could turn around and make fun of him. Hmm rwd MB with tired all seasons does fine but 4wd truck slides out of control.

Your statement tells you have never driven in snow with 4 new real snow tires of the correct size (not wider than originals) set-up with spikes at the back (for rear wheel drive car).

on the other hand, on an ice-slick hill, the downhill-bound vehicle has less control - the uphill-bound car will just get stuck, but the downhill-bound car can hit something.

Up-Hill have the right of way?????
Snow, ice, no snow, rain or shine, who's got the right of way does not change.

That is why I inserted the part that the driver should acknowledge the car heading uphill, usually a direction signal or a wave will do.
Really amazing that if you use the right gear you can really control speed on an icy downhill.

True though that ice really does require planning and technique.

I am forever amazed that during ice storms in my area that certain notorious hills are neither closed or covered in gravel to give drivers a fighting chance .

Absurd to think that road conditions shouldn't alter courtesy or who has right of way.

Additionally heavy trucks should be given room on steep hills no matter what the conditions. Harder to get going a twenty-five ton truck going up a hill than a passenger car.

in icy conditions, pedestrians should cross defensively as well. When the light has turned red for the cars and "WALK" for the pedestrians, I make sure that the cars can brake in time for me. I pay particular attention to the left-turning lane, which sometimes does not get well travelled and salted, over which black ice can usually form.

many people cross blindly, thinking that the drivers always have control of their vehicles. They have the right of way, they say, but this means nothing to 4 tires scrambling for traction ...

Definitely NOT like this:

http://www.cbsnews.com/media/2005/01/13/video666774.wmv

what moron is gonna jump out of a car, ONTO ICE, to avoid hitting another car....AT 4 MPH!!!! they just bail right out, thats hi-frikkin-larious to me :bowrofl: