Well it is that time of year again and it seems no matter how many years some people have under their seat belt the first snow or ice storm puts them on the side of the road or into the back of someone else s car.
With just a handful of simple tips you can navigate your way on all but the most snow covered roads but lets first start by saying the #1 tip for driving in Ice and Snow is DON’T DO IT!
If it is actually snowing and you don’t have a serious reason for getting out in it like your wife is having a baby or you are a doctor that needs to deliver a baby then wait until the plow trucks clear and salt the roads. This is extremely important to heed if it is the first snow of the season… It seems that so many accidents happen that first snow it is almost like people that can not afford their car payments wait until that first snow then go out and crash them so the insurance company will cover it….
If you have never driven in the snow because you are from a part of the country that doesn’t get snow that often or if you are a young driver it is important that you act very cautiously the first time out.
Another thing to realize is if it is difficult for you to get to your car without slipping or if you wouldn’t walk down the street because there is too much ice and snow then driving in it is not something you want to do.
Tips For Making It Home In Ice & Snow
1) Clean your car before driving. This means not only your windows but the snow on your hood that will blow onto your windshield and the snow on the top of your car that will blow onto the windshield of the person behind you. If you leave snow on your car (the roof or doors) and it melts it may go into your locks or door jams and freeze them shut. This will leave you stranded at work.
When cleaning your car of snow and ice first get in and start the car and place the heater on high and activate your defrosters. This will melt the snow and ice on your windshields in just a few minutes and no scraping will be needed.
If you can not get in the drivers door easily try the passengers door. Because they are not used as much they often work better in the snow and locks seem to open easily.
Remember to clean your headlights and tail lights and when you go to the gas station wash them with the window washer sponge brush.
2) Drive slowly.. Always drive slower in snow or ice then you normally will because it will take you much longer to stop your car. If you need to drive slow during a storm put your emergency flashers on.
3) Drive in the lane that is most clear. Often especially on highways snow plows will hit the fast lane first and come back for the slow lane later. Drive in which ever lane is best cleared of snow or ice and drive slowly. During a snow storm there is no fast lane … only a safe lane.
4) Never try to make it up steep hills that are covered with snow unless you see people before you making it with no problem. I would suggest that you drive a mile or more out of your way if you must just to avoid any steep hill during a snow fall.
5) Avoid Driving after dark because roads will become icy. Even roads that seemed fine all day long will become dangerous after the sun goes down or if a cold snap hits during the day. Black Ice will look invisible to you because it is water that has refroze on the surface and is transparent.
7) Make sure your car is in good shape with properly inflated tires and a full windshield washer pump reservoir. Road salt will quickly cover your front windshield so you need to be able to clean it fast and without freezing. Use pure windshield washer fluid with antifreeze in it not water. Make sure your wipers and washer pump works before you leave the driveway.
8) If your windows begin to fog up while driving turn on your air conditioner. Also keep a roll of paper towels in your car to quickly wipe the window until the air conditioner kicks in. remember to adjust your settings so all air goes onto the windshield.
9) Carry a cellphone and numbers of tow trucks and other important businesses along your route. You should map out the route from your home to work and make sure you know tow truck companies all along the route that can tow you home or to a repair shop. Also make a list of police stations so you don’t have to call 911 if no one is injured.
10) Carry a pack of road flares in case you get stuck. You MUST practice lighting one so you fully understand how they work before you need it.
10) Keep a change of clothes in the car. If you must work around the car to free it from snow you may end up falling into mud or water that will make you wet. If you get wet you will be cold and being covered in mud is not fun.
11) Keep a container of antifreeze in your trunk. If you need the antifreeze you can use it if not you can empty the container and use it for gasoline. Remember to flush the antifreeze out of the container with a small amount of gasoline when you fill the container at the gas station. Shaking a container of Gasoline will build up pressure so open the container slowly and don’t smoke.
12) If you are sliding on Ice or Snow your front wheels will not steer the car if you have the breaks locked and do not have ABS breaks. In this case pump your breaks while turning slowly in the direction you want to go.
13) EMERGENCY ONLY – if you are in a situation where impact is eminent and you are sliding into a collision at more then 15mph uncontrollably you should first look for a direction you can turn to avert the impact. Any place including off the road will be better then impacting with a vehicle in front of you. However watch for signs and trees and other obstacles on the side of the road.
If you have no other resort then do the following WARNING DOING THIS COULD SEVERELY DAMAGE YOUR CAR BUT YOUR LIFE IS AT RISK…
- Step on the breaks and lock the wheels from turning.
- Shift from Drive to Reverse and keep your foot on the break.
- Slowly release the break and apply the gas.
This may slow you enough to reduce the speed of impact.
If you hit a dry spot while doing this you may damage your transmission beyond simple repair.
If you are alone in the car and can not stop then allow the passengers side front bumper to take the impact.
Again this maneuver should only be performed if you know the capabilities of your driving skill and your vehicle AND it is necessary to reduce your chance of dieing or becoming seriously injured.
You may lose control of steering but as I have had to do this myself I can only say in my instance it worked and slowed my car enough so I did not enter into an intersection and get broadsided. I would categorize myself as an advanced but not professional driver who has some racing background… keep that in mind if you decide to do this… maybe better is to brace for impact but that is your choice.
- Once the car slows enough that you can control it… Put your foot on the break to lock the wheels and shift into neutral or drive. Never shift while the wheels are rotating.
This maneuver with a manual transmission will probably eat the teeth in your gear box and may cause catastrophic failure. Automatics are more forgiving because they have a torque converter which can absorb much of the abuse.
My suggestion is that you never put yourself in a place where this action is necessary.
Final Note
AGAIN the #1 Rule for safe driving in Winter Snow and Ice … is… DO NOT DRIVE!
Wait for a few hours or until the next day when the streets are clean.
The world will still be there and so will you.
Learning how to drive in the snow can be just as difficult as the first time you took the wheel or hopped on a bike as a kid but every professional driver …. meaning truck drivers or others that do it day in and out as their job will tell you… don’t take risks.. don’t drive faster then the conditions allow and know your limitations.
Be safe.