The trick to driving safely on snowy and icy roads is to make sure that you have control of your car at all times, and to anticipate what could happen if other people don’t. Just driving a little more slowly and leaving a bit more space often does the trick. DON’ Ts: Don’t tailgate. That’s a fast recipe for a chain collision. The good weather rule of thumb is to leave at least one car length between you and the car in front of you for every 10 mph. In winter, double it. Don’t speed. Even if you’re hell on wheels in summer, it’s a different story in winter. The faster you go, the less traction you will have, and in winter, you need all the traction you can get. Don’t stop suddenly, even if it means going through a yellow light. The same goes for any sudden changes to direction. Nearly all skids happen as a result of too sudden a change in speed or direction. If you absolutely must slow down faster than the car can manage on its own, apply the brakes gently, making sure the tires keep their traction on the road surface. Remember, if the tires don’t grip the road, the brakes are not going to do you much good anyway. DOs: Do slow down! The faster you go, the more likely it is that you don’t have firm contact with the road anymore, although you probably won’t notice it until it’s too late. It’s worth saying it twice. Nearly all winter accidents are the result of going too fast for the road conditions. Do apply gas gradually and brake gradually. Your car and your gas costs will thank you. Do look ahead to see what’s coming next. If the light on the next block has been green for a long time, you can safely guess that it’s probably about to turn yellow. If you see a car still moving with its wheels locked, you can guess that it’s not going to be able to stop. By looking ahead, you can avoid being caught in that intersection and getting t-boned. Do keep some extra weight in your trunk, maybe a large bag of sand which can also double as grit for traction in case you get stuck. The extra weight over your drive wheels gives them a little bit of extra traction, and you can always use extra traction when driving on ice and snow. Do test your traction regularly. Can you feel your tires grip the road surface? Does your car respond quickly to slight changes of speed, such as taking your foot off the gas pedal? If not, you’ve got a skid waiting to happen. If you feel yourself starting to skid, take your foot off the gas at once. Let the car slow down on its own until the tires regain their grip. Whatever you do, don’t slam on the brakes! This will send you into a skid for sure. Do learn how to get out of a skid before you need it. Find a nice, empty, snow-covered area with plenty of room for mistakes. An after-hours mall parking lot is perfect. Then experiment and practice until controlling and getting out of a skid becomes second nature. Do switch over to snow tires before the snow hits. Snow tires have heavy open treads which bite into snow and ice, giving them traction far beyond standard all-season tires. Those treads also shed snow and icy water, so that the tire is constantly getting rid of slush buildup. You’ll need that grip on the road surface during winter driving. Winter driving on snow and ice is just like driving on any other surface, except that you have to take everything a little slower and give everyone a bit more space. Take it slow and easy, don’t panic and don’t overreact, and you should have no problem on the roads this winter. Category:Home › Home • Will higher gasoline prices mean lower sales for new cars? — part 2 • Will higher gasoline prices mean lower sales for new cars? — part 1 • Should the crew of the Sea Shepherd board whaling ships? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 13 • Grandparents: Can blogging chronicle your genealogy? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 12 • Are teachers unions the cause of public school problems today? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 11
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