Driver's Corner
By Bob Read
Winter Driving
January 17, 2006
Happy New Year! It’s a beautiful day here in the mountains, with snow as far
as I can see. And while all of us are enjoying the season, and looking forward
to spring,, we can’t forget that winter driving poses a unique set of
challenges.
With a few simple changes in our driving habits, we can make the difference
between an enjoyable winter drive, and a terrifying winter disaster.
Slow Down!
Roads are cold, tires are cold, there is simply less grip available. In the
winter months stopping distance increases dramatically, even with the best snow
tires, even if the road looks clear.
Black Ice
With the wide swing in temperatures between day and night, nearly invisible
layers of ice can form on the pavement, unfortunately, right during evening rush
hour. Anticipate where slick spots may form. Watch for low lying areas where
water may sit during the day, freezing to an invisible sheet after sunset. Be
careful on bridges, slow down where ice may form on the colder pavement.
Leave Space!
As the freeway fills at rush hour we tend to pack closer together.
Unfortunately, this does not get us home sooner, and greatly increases the
chances of an accident. Instead, relax and leave more than one car length
for every 10 mph of traveling speed. If someone jumps in ahead of you to fill
the space, drop back a bit and give them room. If they make a mistake, you still
have breathing room to slow or stop, especially if someone is tailgating you!
Look Further Ahead!
I can’t stress this one enough. Look around the cars ahead of you, look
through the windows of those big SUV’s, keep your eyes up and be aware of
everything ahead, behind, and beside you. Leave an escape route on your left or
right side, never allow yourself to get trapped on all four sides of your
vehicle. Don't taligate tractor-trailers, they are quite difficult to see past.
The further ahead you can see, the more time you give yourself to react to road
hazards or other cars.
Gentle Inputs
Gentle steering and braking inputs are extremely important in the winter months.
Turn smoothly, both hands relaxed on the wheel at the 3 and 9 o’clock
positions. Don’t stab the brake pedal. Instead, squeeze gently on the brakes,
and breathe gently off of them. Smooth inputs allow your car to maximize it’s
traction on the road surface, keeping you in better control.
ABS
Most likely your car has ABS, an anti-lock braking system. Under hard braking,
the vehicle’s computer senses when the wheels are about to lock, automatically
adjusting the braking pressure to help prevent a skid. Use this to your
advantage. If you need to stop quickly or avoid an obstacle, you can press hard
on the pedal (be aware of the surface under your tires), and still steer
(gently) around the obstacle. The pedal pulse you feel is the system adjusting
the pressure. Feels strange, works extremely well.
What to do in a skid?
If your car starts to slide on snow or ice, look where you want to go! Your eyes
and hands will guide you toward straightening out your car. Ease off the gas
pedal, but don’t do anything abruptly (remember: smooth, gentle inputs at all
times).
Steer into the skid. Well, what does that really mean? If the rear end is
sliding to the right, turn the wheel smoothly to the right. If sliding to the
left, turn the wheel to the left. If the front end is sliding straight ahead,
and simply will not turn, lift off the gas, and do not turn any more than
necessary. Wait for traction to come back before adding more steering input.
In ALL slides, do not overcorrect by turning the wheel too much. If you do, when
the tires regain traction, you will create a fishtail slide in the opposite
direction. Don’t panic, LOOK well ahead to where you want to go.
Other Quick Tips
- Wear a seat belt at all times! It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway.
- Be sure fluids are topped off at all times, especially windshield cleaner
- Check tire pressure often. Pressures tend to drop in colder weather
- Check tire tread depth, keep best tires up front for steering and stopping
control.
- Keep a winter safety kit in your car…
water, blanket, candles, matches, flashlights, cell phone, shovel, chains,
hazard reflector, windshield washer fluid
While all of this is really common sense, in the rush of our daily lives we tend
to overlook what seem to be small things. Take the few short minutes needed to
check your vehicle, leave plenty of space when driving and always look well
ahead. Be safe, and enjoy the beautiful winter we have here in Utah!
Bob Read
bread@xmission.com