"Ballzonya" (ballzonya)
12/10/2014 at 18:12 • Filed to: None
6
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"Ballzonya" (ballzonya)
12/10/2014 at 18:12 • Filed to: None | 6
| 16 |
Having grown up in the Northeast, I became accustomed to snowy and icy roads from day 1 of driving. Literally, day one I had my permit, my dad took me to a parking lot full of snow and told me to punch it, then slam on the breaks to get a feel for how little traction a vehicle has in these conditions (my 1992 Taurus did not have ABS). After years of experience and a few close calls, I can say that I am confident (not overconfident though) driving in winter conditions.
Unfortunately, others do not have this luxury or have not taken the time to learn to drive in winter weather, and it causes all sorts of havoc when they do encounter a snowy situation. This could not be more apparent when visiting the mountains in California, and the folks from the Bay and Central valley are slipping and sliding everywhere. Many of you will find this repetitive, but some people honestly do not have a clue how to drive in the snow. Here are are few pointers for those who are not used to the snow (in no particular order):
1. Slow Down - I can't stress this enough. If you think you're going too fast, you are. No one is going to get pissed off in a snowstorm if you are going slow. Drive to your abilities and maintain a constant safe speed.
2. Back Off - Double the normal distance you would have between cars, if not more, and do not tailgate. Also, if you feel like someone is too close to your rear bumper, wait for a safe place to pull over, and let them by. No sense is getting nervous or worked up over it, you need to be focused on your car, not the guy behind you.
3. Be Patient - Don't expect to get anywhere fast and don't drive unless you have to. Getting worked up and stressed will only cause your judgement to be impaired.
4. Snow Tires Do Not Make You Immune to Wrecks - Sure your Accord has snow tires, but that does not mean you should drive like you are on dry pavement. Refer back to tip #1
5. Learn your vehicle - If you have an opportunity, find a safe, snow covered, empty parking lot and get to know your car. Know how long it takes you to stop from 30-0, how it steers, how it accelerates, etc. If you have a big enough lot, cut it sideways and get a feel for how your car reacts in a spin. This is your time to practice without consequence.
6. If you wreck, pull over and get to a safe place - A couple years back I witnessed a wreck on the Mass pike during a wicked storm. As I pulled over to help, I noticed the road I thought was pavement was all ice. I pulled off about 100 yards past the wreck and ran to the wrecked vehicle to check on the couple inside. It was a nasty crash; Airbags deployed, and the car ended up in the breakdown lane, but the driver and his wife were only shaken, not hurt. I told them to get out of the car and on the other side of the guardrail, much to their dismay. Just as they exited, 2 other cars that were trying to slow down collided and hit the guardrail about 20 yards down the road. Needless to say...find a safe place if you crash or breakdown in the snow
7. Be prepared with supplies - I have a duffel bag that I keep in my car with 1 gallon of water, a small shovel, gloves, a winter hat, a fleece jacket, a blanket, and a couple road flares. This stuff comes in handy.
8. Don't be distracted - Driving with a phone to your ear is dangerous enough. Turn off and put away anything that might distract you. You need 100% of your focus to be on driving.
Anything I forgot? Feel free to comment
HammerheadFistpunch
> Ballzonya
12/10/2014 at 18:22 |
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Control as glass. Soft brakes, soft throttle, soft steering inputs. Treat the controls as glass. Also, use engine braking to intensify this point.
ly2v8-Brian
> Ballzonya
12/10/2014 at 18:23 |
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That 4x4 and AWD make you immune to issues.
Ok, I can stop laughing now, they don't make you immune AT ALL. I have only been driving for 9 years, but have only really used 4x4 once. And I live in MN. I just do the above with my current DD a RWD Silverado.
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ly2v8-Brian
> HammerheadFistpunch
12/10/2014 at 18:28 |
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E. Julius
> Ballzonya
12/10/2014 at 18:28 |
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Literally, day one I had my permit, my dad took me to a parking lot full of snow and told me to punch it, then slam on the breaks
Ahh, one of my favorite rites of passage growing up in a snowy place. I fondly remember hooning my dad's Mazda 3 around an empty parking lot with him. After that I always BEGGED to take my mom's Magnum out in the winter.
Wagon + RWD + no ABS = fun
Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
> ly2v8-Brian
12/10/2014 at 18:30 |
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Tires matter a lot more than 4x4, as I learned pretty quickly. Though, the tires I had even fooled the abs when the roads of Florida were damp with humidity. Snow rated, my ass. 4x4 was needed to unlock the brakes. Thanks Pro-Comp! Also, thank you seriously Mastercraft for providing cheaper tires that actually work!!
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ly2v8-Brian
> Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
12/10/2014 at 18:32 |
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To me the number one thing is simply, good judgment. Everything helps in some way but if you're not properly using what's between your ears, then you are going to get yourself in trouble.
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ly2v8-Brian
> E. Julius
12/10/2014 at 18:34 |
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Oh yeah, My first vehicle was a RWD S10. Talk about fun! Minnesota winters were a blast with that thing.
Haimatox
> Ballzonya
12/10/2014 at 18:35 |
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In order to have a crash, you have to be moving. I found that out today trying to get out of my school parking lot. It took me ten minutes, three people, two shovels, and the rubber floormats just to leave the parking spot .
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Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
> ly2v8-Brian
12/10/2014 at 18:36 |
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Doesn't matter when your brakes lock if you think about applying your brakes. Pretty awful for having over 60% tread depth left. 4WD saved me from crashing into fences many times.
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E. Julius
> ly2v8-Brian
12/10/2014 at 18:38 |
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Have you ever had the chance to show off your Minnesota driving skills to friends from a warmer state? I always loved scaring the shit out of my Texan friends with low speed handbrake turns when our parking lots iced over in Oklahoma.
Steve in Manhattan
> Ballzonya
12/10/2014 at 18:41 |
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Sort of a corollary - if the weather gets bad and you're a ways from home, get a motel. Back in '97 I was headed home to DC from Arkansas and ran into some awful weather in the Tennessee hills/mountains. My SHO had good all weathers on, but they were insuffient for a frozen road and dense powder. Motel was full up, but the owner let me a room in the back that they usually reserved for drunks from the adjoining bar. The road was cleared the next morning, and after a lot of coffee, waffles, and bacon, I was on my way. In other words, if you see the word H/MOTEL, pull over if it's dicey. They might even have free WiFi.
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ly2v8-Brian
> E. Julius
12/10/2014 at 18:42 |
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Hell, I do that to my Mom and Sister. Freaks them out, especially fishtailing on purpose. My dad would do that when I was little with the Volvo 740 we had, good times.
unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
> ly2v8-Brian
12/10/2014 at 18:45 |
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Ah-e-ah-e-ah, wah wah wah
ranwhenparked
> Ballzonya
12/10/2014 at 19:00 |
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I would say at least half the people I saw on the drive home were violating all of the first 3. Only saw 2 wrecks though, so I guess that's not bad.
Sn210
> Ballzonya
12/10/2014 at 19:04 |
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I'd also like to suggest cleaning your car off completely so you don't blind others with flying snow or worse, flying ice chunks. Also, if it's snowing, turn your damn lights on!
V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8
> Ballzonya
12/10/2014 at 19:48 |
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9. Clean your damn car off.
I was in a parking lot at the Burlington Mall, and an Odyssey didn't clean their roof off. As they braked, the ice fell down, completely covering their windscreen. I've also seen large chunks of heavy, wet snow fall off of the roofs of cars. Seriously, there's this amazing invention called the side step or door sill that you can step on, and hold on to the rail on the top of your minivan/SUV. Amazingly, you can clean your roof off, and not risk the life of other people behind. What annoy's me even more is the people that don't clean off the roof of their sedans or hatchbacks. Is it really that hard? I guess it's pretty typical, from what I've seen, of a lot of Massachusetts drivers to not clean their cars off.
/endminirant