Snow is starting to fall, and I’m never really sure if I’m doing the right thing behind the wheel in this freezing weather. Can you offer any tips or suggestions for driving in snowy winter conditions?
An entire book could be written on the techniques of winter driving, but I’ll go ahead and share some tips from my 15-plus years of dealing with snow and ice in everything from my personal car to ambulances and small buses.
Clean off your car. Don’t just clear snow off of the windows — get the hood, roof, and trunk too. Why? Ever drive behind that jerk in front of you who didn’t? It’s like being in a mini-blizzard. Be considerate.
Slow down. I really can’t stress this one enough, so I’m going to repeat it:
Slow down. I don’t care if that guy just passed you going 55 mph through six inches of unplowed snow. He’s not going to pay your deductible when you crash.
Use gentle control inputs. Don’t stomp on the gas. Don’t slam on the brakes. Don’t jerk the steering wheel. Be smooth, precise, and careful. Oh, you have ABS? Great, that will keep the wheels from locking up, but the sudden deacceleration can still pitch the car sideways. Pretend there’s an egg between your foot and the pedals.
Try starting in a higher gear. If you are having trouble getting started from a stop without spinning your wheels, use a higher gear. In a manual, try second or even third (you might have to slip the clutch a bit more). In an automatic, put it on “2″ or “D2″ or read your owner’s manual for specifics.
Turn into the skid. If you start sliding sideways, turn the front wheels so they are pointing in the direction the car is sliding. If you are sliding to the right and looking out the passenger window to see what’s coming at you, turn the steering wheel to the right and point the wheels in that direction. Let off the gas, do not slam on the brakes. If you must use the brakes, apply them gently. Most importantly, don’t panic.
Be observant. You should be doing this no matter what the weather, but it bears repeating. See somebody driving erratically? Give them more space.
Leave more room. Keep back further from the car in front, try to keep separated from the cars behind and to the side of you. Try to make sure you always have somewhere to go if bad things start happening around you — always have an exit plan.
Other tips
I lived in upstate New York, in the heart of lake effect snow country, for years and years. I never felt the need to use tire chains, as I drove cars that performed well in the snow, with good tires. However, some states and areas require them — California, when there’s snow in the mountains, for example — and I feel that for a driver inexperienced in driving in snow they are a very helpful tool. If you live somewhere with chain laws — or just want to use them — make darn sure you know how to put them on before you need them. Freezing on the side of the road on a dark mountain pass is not the time to figure out how they install. Practice this in your nice warm garage at home first.
Another chain tip — chains belong on the wheels that actually drive your car. If you have a front wheel drive car, put them on the front wheels. If you have a rear wheel drive car, put them on the rear wheels. If you don’t know what kind of car you have, I highly suggest you read the manual and find out.
Most of all, just use common sense. You wouldn’t go sprinting on snow in your running shoes, trying to turn corners like you were on dry pavement — so why would you drive like that? Slow down, be gentle with the wheel and pedals, keep your eyes open, and you should be fine.
‘Tis the season
Driving safely in snowy conditions first requires preparation (see our article on the topic here) — and then you have to know how to handle your car in inclement weather, as it will behave differently on snow and ice than it does on dry pavement.
An entire book could be written on the techniques of winter driving, but I’ll go ahead and share some tips from my 15-plus years of dealing with snow and ice in everything from my personal car to ambulances and small buses.
Other tips
I lived in upstate New York, in the heart of lake effect snow country, for years and years. I never felt the need to use tire chains, as I drove cars that performed well in the snow, with good tires. However, some states and areas require them — California, when there’s snow in the mountains, for example — and I feel that for a driver inexperienced in driving in snow they are a very helpful tool. If you live somewhere with chain laws — or just want to use them — make darn sure you know how to put them on before you need them. Freezing on the side of the road on a dark mountain pass is not the time to figure out how they install. Practice this in your nice warm garage at home first.
Another chain tip — chains belong on the wheels that actually drive your car. If you have a front wheel drive car, put them on the front wheels. If you have a rear wheel drive car, put them on the rear wheels. If you don’t know what kind of car you have, I highly suggest you read the manual and find out.
Most of all, just use common sense. You wouldn’t go sprinting on snow in your running shoes, trying to turn corners like you were on dry pavement — so why would you drive like that? Slow down, be gentle with the wheel and pedals, keep your eyes open, and you should be fine.
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