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.

Personally, I would put know thy rubber as #3, but there's not a lot of bridges around here.

Good write up though

Haha sound advice for a happier society, great read DS

All good and wise suggestions.

I'd add a few items to that list DS:

-If you have snowchains for your vehicle, try putting them on at least once BEFORE you go driving in the snow. If you're sitting in the middle of the road, stuck and wanting help to figure out that you bought the wrong size, I will laugh and drive around you.

Know whether your vehicle is FWD, RWD, 4WD or AWD. Tire chains go on the drive wheels (Durrr, but I've seen people stuck with the chains on wrong. I laughed and drove by). If you own a 4WD or AWD and need chains, put them on all four wheels to avoid damaging your transfer case. You may also chain up all four wheels on a 2WD for more control. Steering>Traction. Better to be stuck than careening towards your demise, eh?

-When buying studded tires, buy all four. The last tire shop I bought studs at told me it is against their policy now to sell just a pair even if the customer requests it because control is compromised. Your life is worth more than a set of tires IMO.

-Take the time to clean your ENTIRE windshield off, as well as the back window, mirrors and side windows. It's also a good idea to clean off your headlights and turn signals. Things like seeing and being seen become more important in the snow, not less. Add an ice scraper and/or a handbroom to your essentials list.

-Keep your tank topped off at a higher level. My personal limit for Winter is 1/4 tank. You never know when you'll be stuck yourself or stuck waiting for someone else, and your life may depend on your heater working.

-Don't help people get unstuck, no matter how badass a 4WD you have unless it's a real emergency. Offer to call a towtruck instead. It may seem mean, but I've seen extractions go awry in very bad ways. Not worth it IMO.

-Carry water in the passenger compartment. If you get really stuck, you'll appreciate your forethought.

If only more people would follow your suggestions. We just had a bit of a snow storm up here in the north-west corner of Washington state this weekend and I saw several accidents around the area. Only thing I would add to that is "Don't freak out and over-correct, it will only make things worse."

Quote: Originally Posted by Wordbiker I'd add a few items to that list DS: -Carry water in the passenger compartment. If you get really stuck, you'll appreciate your forethought.

Uhh, you will tend to have a block of ice at lower temps... might try to get in the habit of bringing it with you!

Quote: Originally Posted by Darksamurai Uhh, you will tend to have a block of ice at lower temps... might try to get in the habit of bringing it with you!

That is what I meant DS.

Great tips.
Here's something that happened last year to my friend. DO NOT ATTACH A TOW ROPE TO A PLASTIC BUMPER!

Quote: Originally Posted by musclecars&computers Great tips. Here's something that happened last year to my friend. DO NOT ATTACH A TOW ROPE TO A PLASTIC BUMPER!

Yeah, lots of videos on Youtube have shown the end result of that



Money shot at around 1:25. But why would they tow the car OVER the freaking snow?

Fantastic guide, bro! More people need to see this on a daily basis.

d

Quote: Originally Posted by 4x0n But why would they tow the car OVER the freaking snow?

Probably because they were too lazy to want to shovel it out of the way. I know that it is not a fun thing to have to do but a few minutes shoveling will only cost you a bit of time, whereas laziness cost them their car.

Quote: Originally Posted by 4x0n Yeah, lots of videos on Youtube have shown the end result of that Money shot at around 1:25. But why would they tow the car OVER the freaking snow?

Holy crap! I had a dent in the door of my GT that I was quoted $700.00 to fix... the entire front bumper was $2,100.00 (not installed) and that was a straight-across replacement... I wonder how much that would have cost to fix! Damn!

It'll be easier to park now, lol

A couple more notes have come up this Winter:

*Just because the road is covered in snow, it does not mean that it disappears and becomes "off-road". It is NOT OK to ride your snowmobile down the street towing your kids in sleds behind it. As much as I see this as a brilliant opportunity to prove out Natural Selection in the most pragmatic way possible, the undercarriage of my truck is really hard to clean and I'd rather be saved the trouble.

*Just because the lines on the road can't be seen, it may not be a good idea to start making up your own rules of the road, such as driving the wrong way down the street. Also, when I stop to wait for you to finish up your rules revisions, don't get mad and point furiously at the driveway I'm blocking and that you want to pull into. I can't read your mind, and even if I could, I gave up reading comics as a kid.

*Inner tubes have absolutely no provisions for steering or braking. Please don't be angry when our shop takes a more prudent and less litigious position by not offering them for rent. Since you're not from here and don't own any property, using one would be trespassing anyway.

Quote: Just because the road is covered in snow, it does not mean that it disappears and becomes "off-road".

LMAO, "im sorry but thats just too funny!!!!!! Back home , my rules for snow driving were

#1 - My trucks bigger so YOU need to swerve!!
#2 - If your in front of me YOUR A TARGET!!!( if your behind me you still might be )
#3- I Have 44" tires and 4 wheel drive, so YES I CAN drive where I want, including YOUR front yard !!!
#4- If my trucks sliding sideways ......... I ment to do it .

In parkersburg W.Va. , if we got more than a foot overnight they would close all the town road to non-essential traffic ............ I got a few tickets , apparently just because my truck Could drive through it , didnt mean it was Essential for me to do so .

DS, we need one of these for flood season too LOL. Gotta love fool's in lil' imports that think thier honda can cross 12" deep rushing flood water . Donno how many times I had to tow out neighbors from the stream behind my place that flooded the road during heavy rains.

I try to avoid puddles that are big in my little import. lol I don't know that inspires people to cross rivers in cars that are 4 inches about the ground.

Maybe they think their car is a submarine?

Quote: Originally Posted by Darksamurai Okay... TOP TEN: WINTER DRIVING SURVIVAL TIPS: 1. KNOW THY VEHICLE! 2. KNOW THYSELF 3. BRIDGES AND YOU 4. KNOW THY RUBBER: 5. ABS 6. SLOW DOWN! 7. TEST THE ROAD: 8. SLOW DOWN WAYYYYYY BEFORE AN INTERSECTION: 9. PLAN AN ESCAPE! 10: CLUTCH KICKING:

+1 to not clutch kicking apart from being stupid, it greatly reduces the overall lifespan, grip and performance of your clutch, considering the softness of clutches these days in consumer cars you shouldn't be clutch kicking unless you have a upgraded clutch, drifters/ricers tend to clutch kick a lot and as a result of that tend to lose clutch life very fast.

MT FTW

I'm still amazed at the amount of people here who seem to completely forget how to drive when there's barely any snow at all on the ground.

I would put number 6 : slow down! as number one. That is my main problem during the winter, well during any season, I drive too fast. I would do crazy things like hit a corner without slowing down at all. I'm a impatient person when it comes to driving...

My advice to new drivers .. Don't drive too fast like me