Given the weather we’ve got rolling in today I thought it might be a good idea to pass along some winter weather driving tips.
Invariably you are going to find yourself driving on snowy, icy roads. It is part of the deal living in the Midwest. The best advice I can give you about driving in snow is to not do it. There are a million variables in dry conditions that have to be managed in order to be safe. You end it off the charts when you add snow and ice. But like I said, you’re gonna wind up on the road in a winter storm at some point so, here’s what you have to keep in mind so you make it home safe and give the other drivers around you a shot at making it home safe, too.
- Get off the gas. This is no time for having a heavy right foot. Decrease your speed and leave more room to stop than usual. At least three times more.
- Don’t slam on the brakes. You need a gentle touch to avoid skidding. This is why you leave the extra space between you and the car in front of you.
- Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
- Don’t use cruise control.
- Bridges, overpasses and rarely used roads freeze first – even at temperatures above freezing.
- Don’t assume you can handle everything. No one can. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive cars can slide away from you. Ice can be stronger than your 2,000 pound car.
Let’s say you do all that and you still find your self gliding around like you’re Disney on Ice. Here’s what you do if your rear wheels skid:
- Take your foot off the accelerator. Don’t hit the brakes, just take your foot off the accelerator.
- Steer in the direction you want your front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they’re sliding right, steer right.
- If they start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel in that direction. Nothing sharp or fast, just ease it in.
- If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
- If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), don’t pump them. Apply steady pressure. Trust me, you’ll feel it pulse.
If you find yourself tooling along and your front wheels start sliding on you this is what you do:
- Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don’t try and steer immediately.
- As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow your car down and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then shift back in to Drive, or release the clutch, and keep moving.
Driving on snow and ice isn’t any fun. But the only way to get good at this is to practice. The next time it snows, find an empty parking lot and get a feel for how your car responds. This isn’t an excuse to do donuts like you did back in high school. No, this is about giving yourself every advantage when that moment comes and you have to regain control off your vehicle and the snow and ice have other thoughts.
Drive safe.
