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Darksamurai · 03-December-07, 11:37 PM

Okay...

So, say you're a n00b to driving in the snow for what-ever reason... or say, you've driven a lot in the snow, but you're still white-knuckling it...

Well, I've had coworkers call me "The Ice Skater" due to my uncanny ability to stay ON THE ROAD...

This isn't a huge trick. Within a few simple steps, you can keep control of your vehicle and not become another statistic.

TOP TEN: WINTER DRIVING SURVIVAL TIPS:

1. KNOW THY VEHICLE!

If you bought a new car, take it out to a vacant parking lot at 1:00AM and do some constructive sliding around on the ice. This tells you how the car is going to handle when you're actually sliding. Also, given practice, you'll know how your vehicle handles. There is a BIG difference between how a front-wheel drive handles the snow and a rear wheel. I'm a freak who prefers rear wheel drives. I know how they slide and I've managed to avoid accidents by gunning it at a precise moment, causing the car to slide in the direction I want it to go.

Main point, if you know how your car reacts on the ice, you're going to know what to do a lot better!

2. KNOW THYSELF

I know myself well enough to know I tend to drive too fast. This isn't bragging, this is me admitting I drive like an idiot. Knowing this, I leave a WIDE space cushion around me. More room to slide, more room to react, more room to not get into an accident.

3. BRIDGES AND YOU

There are two types of people who try to pass or otherwise manuever on bridges... asshats and idiots. I've learned this one the hard way (and I've posted pics of my old Jeep to show it). Bridges aren't like regular roads. They usually have a lot more moisture around them, they're usually not covered in asphault (not always, but in a lot of cases, you'll enounter a bridge that is just concrete) and they seem to freeze faster as they have cold air flowing above and below them. I make sure I don't move until I'm over the bridge. Take curves slowly, picture ever shiny spot ice and for the love of God... don't slam on the brakes unless you've decided you want to start handing your paychecks over to your insurance company...

4. KNOW THY RUBBER:

I drive a company vehicle for work. My van was in the shop for repairs, so I borrowed my coworkers van. His van has the dealership tires on it from four years ago. They were as bald as Vin Deisel. I found out that anything over 55 miles an hour was going to get me hurt, as I almost slid into traffic. I just put $400.00 worth of studded snows on one of my vehicles and I can do 80 on that same road. Tires are your only connection to the ground. You want to drive faster, pay the piper...

5. ABS

Antilock Braking is an awesome concept... still, if you value your health, you need to know when to be your OWN ABS. If you're sliding TAP THE BRAKES. You push it down hard, there is a good chance you're going to turn your car into a damn heavy sled. Your tires usually operate on something called "Rolling Traction".. this means that the tread that replaces the patch on the ground might catch something. Still, in a slide, you may have no control at all. Tap the brakes as quickly as you can. DO NOT PUSH HARD or you will lose control. Just tap and tap quickly... I had some joker cut me off on basically a hiway skating-rink, and it's all that saved me just sliding right up the back of him.

6. SLOW DOWN!

If you're not sure, slow down for a minute (just let off the gas and let it come down slowly). If the guy behind you doesn't like it, he can pass you, or bite his steering wheel in frustration, or whatever... it's YOUR life. If you aren't comfortable, yeah... some jerk like me who knows the area might be screaming, "C'mon dammit!"... but it doesn't mean I want you to slide off the road. Take it as fast as you're comfortable. A couple seconds to slow down and scope things out can save your life and/or your wallet.

7. TEST THE ROAD:

When you start off in the morning, if you have a second to run a short test, try this.

When you pull out onto the street, tap your brakes and see if you slide. It will give you a good idea of the road. If you start to lose control, let off the brake, but at that point, you know you're going to need to slow down.

8. SLOW DOWN WAYYYYYY BEFORE AN INTERSECTION:

Sliding into traffic is a great way to meet new people, in fact, you can meet several new people, including other drivers, EMS crews, policemen...

Slow down, if you're sliding, tap the brakes, if all else fails, follow the next step.

9. PLAN AN ESCAPE!

If you start sliding, try to keep your brain in control. Your body is going to be amped up and you're going to want to chant a mantra that will rhyme with "HO DUCK!"

Look for the best way out. You may not have long, but if there is a turning lane and nobody is in it, it will take far less time to slide that way, come to a stop and then turn around later than to rear-end someone and deal with eight months (I've been in two accidents, both took EIGHT MONTHS) of paperwork...

10: CLUTCH KICKING:

A fancy term for using your clutch to slide, you can do this VERY easily in the snow and ice. Use your gears to control your car. If you're a n00b to a stick-shift, practice every freaking day in low-traffic areas and give yourself plenty of room. Letting off the clutch to soon can lock the wheels and then you're so very screwed, it's not funny. If it happens, push the clutch back down and make sure you find your gear. If you're a n00b and you're sliding, tap the brake and don't mess with the gears until you have the car back under control.

BONUS TIP:

DO NOT PLAN A LONG TRIP IN THE ICE AND SNOW WITHOUT:

Making sure you're freakin' ready for the ice and snow.

DUMB-ASSES' GUIDE TO DEATH:

Don't inspect your tires.

Don't bother taking your cell phone

Don't take a blanket or other warming device.

Skip a first aid kit

It would be a bad idea to possibly bring some cat-sand or a small trench-shovel to help you get traction.

Don't bother making sure all of your fluids are topped off.

And do not, under any circumstances make sure you have a coat, gloves, and boots. If you have to walk anywhere in the snow, you might not freeze to death!

Anyway... have a safe holiday season everyone.

03-December-07, 11:37 PM		#1 (permalink)
Darksamurai Sam-Hoe-rai N-Hoe-mad	Winter Driving Okay... So, say you're a n00b to driving in the snow for what-ever reason... or say, you've driven a lot in the snow, but you're still white-knuckling it... Well, I've had coworkers call me "The Ice Skater" due to my uncanny ability to stay ON THE ROAD... This isn't a huge trick. Within a few simple steps, you can keep control of your vehicle and not become another statistic. TOP TEN: WINTER DRIVING SURVIVAL TIPS: 1. KNOW THY VEHICLE! If you bought a new car, take it out to a vacant parking lot at 1:00AM and do some constructive sliding around on the ice. This tells you how the car is going to handle when you're actually sliding. Also, given practice, you'll know how your vehicle handles. There is a BIG difference between how a front-wheel drive handles the snow and a rear wheel. I'm a freak who prefers rear wheel drives. I know how they slide and I've managed to avoid accidents by gunning it at a precise moment, causing the car to slide in the direction I want it to go. Main point, if you know how your car reacts on the ice, you're going to know what to do a lot better! 2. KNOW THYSELF I know myself well enough to know I tend to drive too fast. This isn't bragging, this is me admitting I drive like an idiot. Knowing this, I leave a WIDE space cushion around me. More room to slide, more room to react, more room to not get into an accident. 3. BRIDGES AND YOU There are two types of people who try to pass or otherwise manuever on bridges... asshats and idiots. I've learned this one the hard way (and I've posted pics of my old Jeep to show it). Bridges aren't like regular roads. They usually have a lot more moisture around them, they're usually not covered in asphault (not always, but in a lot of cases, you'll enounter a bridge that is just concrete) and they seem to freeze faster as they have cold air flowing above and below them. I make sure I don't move until I'm over the bridge. Take curves slowly, picture ever shiny spot ice and for the love of God... don't slam on the brakes unless you've decided you want to start handing your paychecks over to your insurance company... 4. KNOW THY RUBBER: I drive a company vehicle for work. My van was in the shop for repairs, so I borrowed my coworkers van. His van has the dealership tires on it from four years ago. They were as bald as Vin Deisel. I found out that anything over 55 miles an hour was going to get me hurt, as I almost slid into traffic. I just put $400.00 worth of studded snows on one of my vehicles and I can do 80 on that same road. Tires are your only connection to the ground. You want to drive faster, pay the piper... 5. ABS Antilock Braking is an awesome concept... still, if you value your health, you need to know when to be your OWN ABS. If you're sliding TAP THE BRAKES. You push it down hard, there is a good chance you're going to turn your car into a damn heavy sled. Your tires usually operate on something called "Rolling Traction".. this means that the tread that replaces the patch on the ground might catch something. Still, in a slide, you may have no control at all. Tap the brakes as quickly as you can. DO NOT PUSH HARD or you will lose control. Just tap and tap quickly... I had some joker cut me off on basically a hiway skating-rink, and it's all that saved me just sliding right up the back of him. 6. SLOW DOWN! If you're not sure, slow down for a minute (just let off the gas and let it come down slowly). If the guy behind you doesn't like it, he can pass you, or bite his steering wheel in frustration, or whatever... it's YOUR life. If you aren't comfortable, yeah... some jerk like me who knows the area might be screaming, "C'mon dammit!"... but it doesn't mean I want you to slide off the road. Take it as fast as you're comfortable. A couple seconds to slow down and scope things out can save your life and/or your wallet. 7. TEST THE ROAD: When you start off in the morning, if you have a second to run a short test, try this. When you pull out onto the street, tap your brakes and see if you slide. It will give you a good idea of the road. If you start to lose control, let off the brake, but at that point, you know you're going to need to slow down. 8. SLOW DOWN WAYYYYYY BEFORE AN INTERSECTION: Sliding into traffic is a great way to meet new people, in fact, you can meet several new people, including other drivers, EMS crews, policemen... Slow down, if you're sliding, tap the brakes, if all else fails, follow the next step. 9. PLAN AN ESCAPE! If you start sliding, try to keep your brain in control. Your body is going to be amped up and you're going to want to chant a mantra that will rhyme with "HO DUCK!" Look for the best way out. You may not have long, but if there is a turning lane and nobody is in it, it will take far less time to slide that way, come to a stop and then turn around later than to rear-end someone and deal with eight months (I've been in two accidents, both took EIGHT MONTHS) of paperwork... 10: CLUTCH KICKING: A fancy term for using your clutch to slide, you can do this VERY easily in the snow and ice. Use your gears to control your car. If you're a n00b to a stick-shift, practice every freaking day in low-traffic areas and give yourself plenty of room. Letting off the clutch to soon can lock the wheels and then you're so very screwed, it's not funny. If it happens, push the clutch back down and make sure you find your gear. If you're a n00b and you're sliding, tap the brake and don't mess with the gears until you have the car back under control. BONUS TIP: DO NOT PLAN A LONG TRIP IN THE ICE AND SNOW WITHOUT: Making sure you're freakin' ready for the ice and snow. DUMB-ASSES' GUIDE TO DEATH: Don't inspect your tires. Don't bother taking your cell phone Don't take a blanket or other warming device. Skip a first aid kit It would be a bad idea to possibly bring some cat-sand or a small trench-shovel to help you get traction. Don't bother making sure all of your fluids are topped off. And do not, under any circumstances make sure you have a coat, gloves, and boots. If you have to walk anywhere in the snow, you might not freeze to death! Anyway... have a safe holiday season everyone. Last edited by Darksamurai; 04-December-07 at 12:02 AM.