For most people in this country, in most areas, driving in snow and ice is an unavoidable yearly event. No matter how hard we try to go out only when the road conditions are the best, at times we just can’t help but drive in very poor weather conditions. Still, there are some tricks we can use to make the trips safer and a little less harrowing. Even good tires on pack show, ice, or black ice will have very little traction, especially the faster we go. This means that normal turning, stopping, and starting distances will be longer. In this kind of weather conditions, we need to drive slower, sometimes much slower, and allow much more time for turning and stopping, while remembering to accelerate slowly and at a steady rate if we are stopped. When possible, use the car’s engine to slow your speed rather than the brakes. Down shifting or letting off the gas well in advance of a stop or turn will often allow the speed to lessen considerably. When coming off a hill on snow and ice, particularly if there is a stop near the bottom of the hill, shift to neutral and gently apply the brakes. When a car is in gear, and this includes automatic transmissions, even when you don’t have your foot on the gas pedal, power is still being applied to the drive train and to the wheels. Always carry a shovel in snow and ice travel. Even a garden spade is better than nothing, but collapsible or small pointed shovels are better. Also always carry blankets for warmth, and water to drink. It may sound paradoxical, but it is very easy to dehydrate in snow conditions. (I have articles dealing with emergency supplies, but the above are bare necessities for traveling in the snow and ice.) It is always a good idea to carry clay style cat litter or sand when traveling in snow and ice. A few handfuls of this in front and behind the tires can be useful in getting unstuck. If the temperature is below 35 degrees F., and the pavement appears bare, slow down and watch for black ice. If you are traveling too fast, you may be on top of the black ice before you know it, and can suddenly find yourself out of control of the car. Black ice can form above 32 degrees, particularly at night when the pavement cools faster than the air. Mist, fog, or frost that may not otherwise even be noticeable can cause the black ice; so don’t assume that the road is totally bare. At night, in a heavy snowfall, slow way down and switch your lights to dim. Bright lights will reflect on the snow and can blind you. In the daytime, in heavy snowfall, still slow way down. Finally, a couple points to always keep in mind. Balloon tires are not even close to being traction devices. In fact since the majority of the tire is well outside the center of gravity of the vehicle, they have less traction that a regular tire, not more. Secondly, four-wheel drive units do not stop any better than two-wheel drive units. The reason is that both have the same number of brakes, arranged in the same way, that operate identically. Don’t make the mistake of many people in thinking that your four-wheeler will stop better than other cars. It won’t. We can all survive the bad weather as long as we keep these things in mind. As important is to remember that that other person driving down the road may not know all of these things, so do your best to watch out for them as well. And by all means, if you don’t have to travel in the snow and ice, don’t. Your life is worth more than that. Category:Home › Autos • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 2 • You should never use after-market auto parts when maintaining or fixing your car • Should a new car be rust-proofed? • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 1 • Five safest cars in North America • How to ensure your teen drives safely after getting a license • Pros and cons of using an hydrogen generator for your car • DIY automotive maintenance: How to change the oil
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