Winter Driving Tips Thread.
Discussion
Ok as a Canadian living on this tropical island paradise called England here are my ten tips for driving in snow in case you get enough to worry about.
1/ Don't. If your journey isn't 100% necessary don't bother. You are putting yourself and everyone else at risk.
2/ Plan your route the night before, take into consideration the possibility of accidents and other blockages, plan several alternative routes, don't rely on the Sat' Nav' to get you out of trouble it may be too late by then. Try to stick to main roads, bus routes and roads leading to and from hospitals and fire stations as these get priority when gritting.
3/ Make sure your car has no faults or defects, tyre treads, pressure, heater works, fuel/water/oil/screen wash levels are within peramiters set by the manufacturer, make sure the car has a fully inflated spare wheel/jack/wheel brace/tool kit and (most important) clear as much snow off the vehicle as possible (for the sake of other road uses). Do not let your tyres down to widen your foot print in an effort to get more grip. That may work on sand but snow is completely different and you will go sideways at the first bend.
4/ Tune the car's radio into a local station for traffic and weather updates don't listen to a tape/cd/mp3 (you muppet). Take a change of clothes and keep them in an air tight container (tied off carrier bag is ideal), wear something high viz' if possible. Take a spare dry pair of (sensible) shoes (so if you have to get out of the car you can have dry feet on the pedals) and two pairs of gloves (one dry one wet).
5/ If you car doesn't have mats grab a pair of old jeans to place under the wheels should you find yourself stuck (that has been a life saver in the past believe me). Place one leg of the jeans under the drive wheel that isn't gripping. Try to move the car until the jeans are pulled under. Tie the legs together and drive away.
6/ First Aid kit, blanket and a thermos of hot sweet tea. You may be the first on the scene of an accident. If you're not keen on doing first aid chances are someone there will be and the kit will be very useful to them. A wool blanket can stop someone from going into shock, protect them from the cold, can be used to evelate a wound or put someone in a correct recovery possition for the symptoms. Also if you find yourself stuck somewhere you'll need to wrap up yourself.
7/ Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged and if you have one take an in-car charger with you.
8/ Rescue equiptment. Take a shovel, spade or even a trowel with you (just in case) and make sure if you take a tow rope or bar it is tested up to five times the weight of your vehicle. If you get stuck the resistance of the snow is reletive to the weight of your car.
Six Inches of snow = The weight of your vehicle resistance.
One Foot of snow = Two times the weight of the vehicle resistance.
Two Feet of snow = five times the weight of the vehicle resistance.
9/ Do not drive with your front fog lights or main beem on during snow fall! This is plain stupidity and will reduce your vision whilst dazzling other road users.
10/ If you have any doubts what so ever, don't drive. If you can not avoid it, drive at your own pace don't worry about holding anyone else up. If you have an accident trying to rush because you're being tailgated they won't stop and thank you for it. Just take your time and take care.
1/ Don't. If your journey isn't 100% necessary don't bother. You are putting yourself and everyone else at risk.
2/ Plan your route the night before, take into consideration the possibility of accidents and other blockages, plan several alternative routes, don't rely on the Sat' Nav' to get you out of trouble it may be too late by then. Try to stick to main roads, bus routes and roads leading to and from hospitals and fire stations as these get priority when gritting.
3/ Make sure your car has no faults or defects, tyre treads, pressure, heater works, fuel/water/oil/screen wash levels are within peramiters set by the manufacturer, make sure the car has a fully inflated spare wheel/jack/wheel brace/tool kit and (most important) clear as much snow off the vehicle as possible (for the sake of other road uses). Do not let your tyres down to widen your foot print in an effort to get more grip. That may work on sand but snow is completely different and you will go sideways at the first bend.
4/ Tune the car's radio into a local station for traffic and weather updates don't listen to a tape/cd/mp3 (you muppet). Take a change of clothes and keep them in an air tight container (tied off carrier bag is ideal), wear something high viz' if possible. Take a spare dry pair of (sensible) shoes (so if you have to get out of the car you can have dry feet on the pedals) and two pairs of gloves (one dry one wet).
5/ If you car doesn't have mats grab a pair of old jeans to place under the wheels should you find yourself stuck (that has been a life saver in the past believe me). Place one leg of the jeans under the drive wheel that isn't gripping. Try to move the car until the jeans are pulled under. Tie the legs together and drive away.
6/ First Aid kit, blanket and a thermos of hot sweet tea. You may be the first on the scene of an accident. If you're not keen on doing first aid chances are someone there will be and the kit will be very useful to them. A wool blanket can stop someone from going into shock, protect them from the cold, can be used to evelate a wound or put someone in a correct recovery possition for the symptoms. Also if you find yourself stuck somewhere you'll need to wrap up yourself.
7/ Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged and if you have one take an in-car charger with you.
8/ Rescue equiptment. Take a shovel, spade or even a trowel with you (just in case) and make sure if you take a tow rope or bar it is tested up to five times the weight of your vehicle. If you get stuck the resistance of the snow is reletive to the weight of your car.
Six Inches of snow = The weight of your vehicle resistance.
One Foot of snow = Two times the weight of the vehicle resistance.
Two Feet of snow = five times the weight of the vehicle resistance.
9/ Do not drive with your front fog lights or main beem on during snow fall! This is plain stupidity and will reduce your vision whilst dazzling other road users.
10/ If you have any doubts what so ever, don't drive. If you can not avoid it, drive at your own pace don't worry about holding anyone else up. If you have an accident trying to rush because you're being tailgated they won't stop and thank you for it. Just take your time and take care.
Some good tip's there.
I remember a similar thread last year or the year before where people kept making reference to the emergency oversteer lever. Sensible use of it saved me from understeering into a couple of kerbs at low speed.
A bloke from somewhere in the north of the USA I was chatting to once said to keep a bag of builders sand and a shovel in the car for two reasons - firstly you can dump the bag over the driven wheels (handy for RWD) and secondly if you do get stuck you can dump a load of sand under the wheels to give you some traction.
I remember a similar thread last year or the year before where people kept making reference to the emergency oversteer lever. Sensible use of it saved me from understeering into a couple of kerbs at low speed.
A bloke from somewhere in the north of the USA I was chatting to once said to keep a bag of builders sand and a shovel in the car for two reasons - firstly you can dump the bag over the driven wheels (handy for RWD) and secondly if you do get stuck you can dump a load of sand under the wheels to give you some traction.
Edited by tenohfive on Thursday 25th November 09:04
g3org3y said:
DannyVTS said:
Don't buy a Saxo for a daily drive
Advice that can be applied all year round.
Good Advice, also jump leads and a spare battery, if your alternator/battery is going to fail, it will be when its cold and you have lights, heated screens, blowers and wipers on!!
Buy good tyres (prefarbly winter tyres) NOW!
Also some good walking boots and chocolate bars/crisps in case you get stranded and have to walk/stay in car overnight!
Liquid Knight said:
9/ Do not drive with your front fog lights or main beem on during snow fall! This is plain stupidity and will reduce your vision whilst dazzling other road users.
I'd disagree with this - fog lights are low powered and mounted/aimed down low, they are less likely to reduce vision or dazzle than than regular dipped beam (unless you have some different definition of fog lights in the northern hemisphere). Agreed that full beam is a bad idea though.nonuts said:
In your 4WD car / 4x4 remember it might accelerate better than 2WD cars, however it doesn't stop any different.
Yes it does - a common fallacy, though I accept there is generally a greater difference under acceleration.nonuts said:
Never rely on braking at the last minute to come to a stop if needed on a hill. Plan ahead and control your speed.
Very much agreed - engine braking is your friend, especially with 4wd.Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 25th November 09:43
GravelBen said:
Yes it does - a common fallacy, though I accept there is generally a greater difference under acceleration.
Without wishing to get into an argument as it always seems a bit 'special' doing that on the internet, I don't agree especially in any cars that are equipped with for example, haldex 4WD or similar as the clutch will not be engaged when braking so you won't get any extra engine braking as the rear wheels are not connected.Engine braking wont make a car stop quicker, anyway, but I guess it does give you a kind of graduated ABS because the braking force tails off as the wheel speed approaches the engine idle speed.
4WD cars do seem to feel significantly more stable on the transition from acceleration to deceleration, which is important.
4WD cars do seem to feel significantly more stable on the transition from acceleration to deceleration, which is important.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 25th November 09:53
nonuts said:
GravelBen said:
Yes it does - a common fallacy, though I accept there is generally a greater difference under acceleration.
Without wishing to get into an argument as it always seems a bit 'special' doing that on the internet, I don't agree especially in any cars that are equipped with for example, haldex 4WD or similar as the clutch will not be engaged when braking so you won't get any extra engine braking as the rear wheels are not connected.To be fair to your point the average numpty will still just fire out the anchors instead of using the advantages of 4wd, and I agree with the general point that you have to be aware its braking where you're most likely to get into trouble no matter how many wheels are driven.
Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 25th November 10:13
Liquid Knight said:
9/ Do not drive with your front fog lights or main beem on during snow fall! This is plain stupidity and will reduce your vision whilst dazzling other road users.
madbadger said:
... when driving in heavy snow (particularly in low light) then put your full beams on and pretend you are in a spaceship going into warp drive.
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