Driving in the Snow

Driving in the snow is no walk in the park; but I guess that's obvious considering that one involves driving and the other walking. It's more like walking in Needle Park in the 70's at about 2 in the morning; very dangerous. There are definitely a few guidelines you must follow to survive.

Go slow. It doesn't matter if you've got snow tires, chains, or studded tires on your vehicle. Slow down to 10 or 15 mph. Always remember that too many other drivers don't know how to drive on snow and think that special tires or chains allow them to drive at the speed limit. Hills are killers, whether you're going up or down. Avoid hills if at all possible, even if it means driving two or three miles farther. No matter whether your vehicle is front- or rear-wheel drive, put about 100 pounds of additional weight (cinder blocks, bricks, sandbags, etc.) in your trunk or as far as possible to the rear of your vehicle's rear axle. This will add significantly to the traction your rear wheels will be able to obtain on snow (McCraw 1). If you have sand in the trunk, you can use it to free yourself by spreading some on the ice-covered street.

If your vehicle starts to overheat (this applies to any weather condition and outdoor temperature), turn on your car heater and fan full blast. The heater acts as a heat sink for the hot water source.

Make sure you have decent tires. "Yul Brynner specials" (bald tires) or high performance tires (which are almost as bad as baldies in snow and ice) are t

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rget to clear all your windows and mirrors. Clearing a peephole on the windshield won't be much help if you can't see cars in the lanes next to you (AAA.com). Several technologies make winter driving easier: antilock brakes (ABS), traction control and other stability systems, and four-wheel-drive. If your vehicle has ABS but you've not used it before on snow and ice, practice in a big, empty parking lot some snowy day. Remember that there is only one way to use ABS properly. Apply full pressure to the brake pedal and keep your foot down until you have steered safely around the object in your way or come to a complete stop (McCraw 1). Brake early, even with ABS. It won't necessarily shorten your stopping distance, but it will help you keep control while you stop. Try to leave plenty of room in several directions around your vehicle so you can steer around an obstacle in front of you, be it a skidding car or a lamp post. If you don't have ABS, take your vehicle to an empty parking lot and practice stopping by pumping the brakes smoothly and rapidly so the car slows without locking up the wheels and leading to a skid (McCraw, 1-2). Too much power when you start off can cause your wheels to spin. Traction control detects wheelsp

Category: Science - D