1) Keep your vehicle in 1st or 2nd gear on snow or ice:
A lower gear not only keeps your car moving slower, it gives the tires more power and more traction which is vitally needed on slick roads.
2) Put your vehicle in a lower gear when turning:
Because of the weight shift on a turn it is much easier to lose control (even in dry weather) in the middle of a turn. It is very easy to skid even in 2nd gear on icy roads when turning, 1st gear is safest.
3) Use the gas pedal and brake pedal as gently as possible at all times on snow and ice:
Any pressure on either pedal causes the weight of the vehicle to shift. (brake pressure sends weight to the front, gas sends it to the rear). This can cause a dangerous loss of balance and control on ice. Therefore use very little pressure on either. This also means brake very early.
4) Push the gear in neutral to stop at red lights and stop signs:
This is contrary to the teaching of safe driving practices but icy conditions require different driving than in dry or wet but non-freezing conditions.
Snow and ice are the only time I would suggest using neutral to help brake, and once you are stopped, immediately put the gear in 1st or 2nd again.
Neutral disengages the engine from the wheels so the engine isn't moving the car forward. This brings a car to a stop much quicker on ice.
5) If you start to skid push the gear in neutral:
I was on my way to a student one morning when heavy snow started falling half way to her house. Although I was driving slow and careful in 2nd gear, as I made a left turn my tires lost traction and I started skidding slowly toward a stopped car to my left headed the opposite direction.
I remembered what my boss told me about using neutral to come out of a skid. As soon as I put my car in neutral my car immediately stopped just about three feet from the other vehicle. This winter driving tip saved me from a collision.
6) Stay on the roads most traveled:
This is pretty much common sense. There are several reasons using busier roads in snow is a good winter driving tip.
More traveled roads will be partially cleared by other traffic.
There is a higher chance the city has brought snow plows and deicers on busier streets.
If you do get stuck on the ice there is a better chance of finding help on a road with more traffic.
7) Don't trust Chains on very steep hills with ice, even with a four wheel drive vehicle:
In South East Portland in 2008 many drivers with Jeeps and other 4WD vehicles believed because they had chains on their tires, their vehicles could safely get down the steep hill of Johnson Creek Blvd. from Mount Scott.
It was laughable to watch the clips on the news of many SUVS' with chains sliding into parked cars on the hill because there just wasn't the traction the drivers thought there would be.
!!! Don't drive on Snow and ice unless you absolutely need to !!!
Even straight, flat, frozen, wet roads can be unpredictable. The drivers on them are unpredictable as well. The best of drivers can easily lose control on ice with one slight error with the steering or the pedals.
Wait until the roads unthaw before driving on them if you can. It will be safer and a lot less stressful behind the wheel if you do.
Source: http://www.drivingtips.org/winter-driving-tips.html
Other blog posts that will help you make it home safely:
A lower gear not only keeps your car moving slower, it gives the tires more power and more traction which is vitally needed on slick roads.
2) Put your vehicle in a lower gear when turning:
Because of the weight shift on a turn it is much easier to lose control (even in dry weather) in the middle of a turn. It is very easy to skid even in 2nd gear on icy roads when turning, 1st gear is safest.
3) Use the gas pedal and brake pedal as gently as possible at all times on snow and ice:
Any pressure on either pedal causes the weight of the vehicle to shift. (brake pressure sends weight to the front, gas sends it to the rear). This can cause a dangerous loss of balance and control on ice. Therefore use very little pressure on either. This also means brake very early.
4) Push the gear in neutral to stop at red lights and stop signs:
This is contrary to the teaching of safe driving practices but icy conditions require different driving than in dry or wet but non-freezing conditions.
Snow and ice are the only time I would suggest using neutral to help brake, and once you are stopped, immediately put the gear in 1st or 2nd again.
Neutral disengages the engine from the wheels so the engine isn't moving the car forward. This brings a car to a stop much quicker on ice.
5) If you start to skid push the gear in neutral:
I was on my way to a student one morning when heavy snow started falling half way to her house. Although I was driving slow and careful in 2nd gear, as I made a left turn my tires lost traction and I started skidding slowly toward a stopped car to my left headed the opposite direction.
I remembered what my boss told me about using neutral to come out of a skid. As soon as I put my car in neutral my car immediately stopped just about three feet from the other vehicle. This winter driving tip saved me from a collision.
6) Stay on the roads most traveled:
This is pretty much common sense. There are several reasons using busier roads in snow is a good winter driving tip.More traveled roads will be partially cleared by other traffic.
There is a higher chance the city has brought snow plows and deicers on busier streets.
If you do get stuck on the ice there is a better chance of finding help on a road with more traffic.
7) Don't trust Chains on very steep hills with ice, even with a four wheel drive vehicle:
In South East Portland in 2008 many drivers with Jeeps and other 4WD vehicles believed because they had chains on their tires, their vehicles could safely get down the steep hill of Johnson Creek Blvd. from Mount Scott.
It was laughable to watch the clips on the news of many SUVS' with chains sliding into parked cars on the hill because there just wasn't the traction the drivers thought there would be.
!!! Don't drive on Snow and ice unless you absolutely need to !!!
Even straight, flat, frozen, wet roads can be unpredictable. The drivers on them are unpredictable as well. The best of drivers can easily lose control on ice with one slight error with the steering or the pedals.
Wait until the roads unthaw before driving on them if you can. It will be safer and a lot less stressful behind the wheel if you do.
Source: http://www.drivingtips.org/winter-driving-tips.html
Other blog posts that will help you make it home safely:
