Birds that fly south still here. Squirrels very active. I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A QUICK SPRING TIME. So, here, in my sorrowful humility, are the musts for Winter Driving.
Space Cushion. Thee most important skill you have for slippery winter driving. But the amount of space we have at other times of the year (2 car lengths for every 10mph posted speed) works for Winter also. Now, I know that few people have this much space; but those people have until now been lucky people.
Car ahead skids or stops quickly; guy behind creeping up to you fast; quick slow down cars ahead of you…all need this amount of space (i.e. 6 car lengths at 30mph, 9 car lengths at 45; 11 at 55). Without this amount of cushion, you are out of options.
Easy Starts. Otherwise, you slip and skid. Car behind does not expect that and continues towards you as you slip. Start gently, and gradually increase your momentum.
Drive Away from Others as a Rule. This is all-year wisdom, folks. Be a loner when driving wherever possible. Then, chances of problems decrease from, say 5 cars in your close vicinity, to just your car. In Winter, they might skid or not be able to discern their proper lane.
Foot Hovering above Brake Whenever You Can’t Preview an Intersecting Site. Not on the brake, but over it. In Winter, such sites include the openings to median-boulevards when snow banks mount larger. Intersecting streets often have blocked vision from snow build up.
Turn Somewhat Slower. Slow before, glide through, gently accelerate a bit later than you do in dry conditions. If you accelerate early, sliding outward across the center is very real. And hug the right turn as you glide through until you angle outward at the end of the turn. That keeps you from sliding outward as well.
Cut Speed Earlier in Slippery Conditions as You Approach Stops. Could be slippery underneath the snow and you cannot always know that. If you come toward the stop too fast, the car controls you and not vice-versa. You control the car; not the other way around.
Don’t Lock up the Wheels When Braking. This is the number one reason cars skid into ditches, skid, slide to where they are vulnerable. Once the wheels lock, control is lost. ABS (anti-lock brakes) help avoid this, because, when pushing all the way down on the brake, the brake shoes pulsate and do not lock the wheel. But, the braking method I teach is ….. this next entry.
Practice Threshold Braking. This avoids locking the wheels and it stops the car in a straight line even faster than does anti-lock braking. Push the brake down to just before the anti-lock kicks in or just before the wheels lock on a vehicle without ABS. You receive maximum stopping distance while keeping the car straight. Practice this in an empty parking lot before trying it on the road.
Keep Tires Out of the Unplowed Snow on Sides of Road. That snow, unplowed, will grab your vehicle and pull it into the snow.
In Heavy Snow Still on Road, Drive in Tracks of Preceding Vehicles. Best traction and keeps you out of that snow that pull you off course. Be careful that doing this does not bring you too close to danger.
Turn the Same Direction as a Rear-End Skid. If your tail skids to the right, turn the wheels slightly to the right. If tail skids left, turn slightly to left. This may have to be done more than once as the car tries to true itself. If you turn in opposite direction of the rear-end skid, your vehicle will be out of your control and keep twirling and circling. TELL YOURSELF AHEAD OF TIME THAT YOU WILL DO THIS PROPERLY. OUR NATURAL REACTION OTHERWISE IS TO TURN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE REAR-END SKID AND YOU MUST FIGHT THAT.
In a Braking Skid, Do Not Turn Wheel, Brake, or Gas. If your vehicle is in a 100% slide because of ice or snow, braking or gas makes it worse. Turning the wheel does nothing. You must let the vehicles weight and decreasing momentum settle you.
Rock the Vehicle to Get out of Being Plowed in at Side of Road. The mistake is to give it gas when trying to escape this situation; gas makes it worse. One hand on wheel, one on shift. Go between reverse and low. Try not to brake when doing this (won’t harm the transmission at low speed like this). Go forward 1 foot, shift to reverse and go backward 2 feet. Go forward 4 feet and back 5 feet. Rock in small increments like this. When you have your “ramp” built, go backward, shift to drive and give it moderate gas to launch yourself off the ramp.
Wouldn’t you like to be able to drive when others feel they cannot? You won’t be impeded when the above is in your repertoire.
