Extra things you may want to carry in your car

ORIGINAL POST

Hey guys, it's my first winter for driving and I was wondering if you guys had advice for driving in the snow/winter time. In my area, it's snows pretty heavily (had 8 inches today). Any advice is helpful :)

10 replies

Franks2000inchTV · 5 years ago

Slow and steady wins the race. Drive at half the speed limit if you need to. Give everyone twice as much room as you usually would.

That’s about it.

You are going to lose control of the car sometimes—you’ll press the gas and the wheels will spin, or you’ll brake and slide a few extra feet.

The secret is to give yourself a large safety margin, so that when this happens you have time to regain control before getting into an accident.

Learn what traction control is, and how it works, and what it looks like in your car when it’s engaged. That’ll help a lot. Also learn the feeling of the anti-lock brakes engaging. (Usually the brake pedal shakes.)

If either of those things are happening, you’re exceeding the grip of the tires and need to adjust your driving.

Everything takes longer — it takes longer to get moving, it takes longer to stop. So be ready for that.

3 upvotes on reddit

Shannenne · 5 years ago

Coming from a fellow MN’er.

Winters are the toughest to drive in. Make sure your tires are made for winter roads and check them every week/other week to make sure the tire pressure is at a good PSI.

Remember to scrap your car windows so you can clearly see out of them. It’s illegal here to drive with windows covered fully/partly with snow/ice. Cover your car windows if possible with a tarp or in an enclosed space (garage)

Drive slowly, black ice can be very dangerous for even veteran drivers because you cannot see black ice. Don’t take fast turns or go fast in an area with Lots of snow/ice. give lots of space for other drivers (general rule is give at least 3 seconds of space but I would say 6-7 so you don’t hit the back of someone else)

If the road conditions looks bad, try to wait it out or not go out. If you have a blizzard or ice storm in the area sometimes these can last days. Look at the local radar and traffic reports. Some businesses may even close early for these conditions.

If you are driving farther away or traveling, tuck in your car some emergency supplies, if you get stranded off the road these can save your life. There are emergency kits that come with supplies but I recommend the following :

-blanket and a small pillow -quick snack bars -plastic water bottles -Candles and matches -portable flashlight/glow sticks -hothands (hand/feet warmers) -first aid kit -portable charger (battery powered that you can charge ) -Handheld radio -a portable snow shovel -ice scraper -extra batteries

Don’t ever try to get out of the car if your trapped on the side or in the ditch. There is a 7 minute rule : if you get outside during below temperatures (negatives) you can lose 7 degrees of body warmth in 1 minute. Takes only 7 minutes to hypothermia (and sometimes even less!) only get out when you have the means to do so (if your being rescued mostly). Always let someone know where you are going.

Stay safe!

2 upvotes on reddit

[deleted] · 5 years ago

To add to this: keep your fuel tank full. In the winter-time, that fuel is not only what propels the car down the road; it is also what keeps the heater running. If you get stuck somewhere and have to wait a long time for help, you don't want to be worrying about running out of fuel. In the winter, I consider the half-full mark to be the new empty mark.

If you do get stuck, make sure you clear any snow that might be blocking the car's exhaust pipe, else the exhaust fumes could get into the car and lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

2 upvotes on reddit

Shitty_Human_Being · 5 years ago

3 seconds of soace is for warm weather/dry tarmac, no?

At least that's everyone does in Norway. 6-7+ for winter conditions. Entirely depends on the speed you're doing of course.

1 upvotes on reddit

Shannenne · 5 years ago

Yep 3+ summer driver 6-8 winter. Can be 10 on gravel/dirt roads aswell

1 upvotes on reddit

[deleted] · 5 years ago

Wait till they clear the roads to drive if u can. Avoid driving on fresh snow.

3 upvotes on reddit

DriveSafeOutThere · 5 years ago

Equip your car with actual winter tires during winter. It's a game-changer.

3 upvotes on reddit

BavarianBanshee · 5 years ago

People underestimate how important this is. Winter tires will make an enormous difference.

3 upvotes on reddit

Feenstra713 · 5 years ago

Go to a large empty parking lot, early in the morning 4-6am. (Emphasis on large and empty) get up to speed (30+mph), then slam on your brakes/start a skid. Then, come either to a safe stop, or straighten out. This is all to learn how your vehicle handles.

2 upvotes on reddit

Feenstra713 · 5 years ago

#MAKE SURE THE LOT IS EMPTY AND YOU ARE NOT GONNA HIT ANYTHING!!!!!!

5 upvotes on reddit

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r/selfreliance • [2]

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Winter Driving Safety Tips

Posted by LIS1050010 · in r/selfreliance · 2 years ago

Whether it’s snow, sleet, or ice, winter weather can cause extremely dangerous road conditions. In 2019, there were 440 fatal crashes, and an estimated 33,000 injury crashes that occurred in wintry conditions. Winter Driving safety Practices and Preparing yourself – and your vehicle – for winter weather is key.

Safety Tips

1. Get a grip. To have adequate snow traction, a tire requires at least 6/32-inch deep tread, according to The Tire Rack. (New passenger-car tires usually have 10/32-inch of the tread.) Ultrahigh-performance “summer” tires have little or no grip in snow. Even “all-season” tires don’t necessarily have great snow traction: Some do, some don’t. If you live where the roads are regularly covered with snow, use snow tires (sometimes called “winter tires” by tire makers). They have a “snowflake on the mountain” symbol on the sidewall, meaning they meet a tire-industry standard for snow traction.

2. Make sure you can see. Replace windshield wiper blades. Clean the inside of your windows thoroughly. Apply a water-shedding material (such as Rain-X) to the outside of all windows, including the mirrors. Make sure your windshield washer system works and is full of an anti-icing fluid. Drain older fluid by running the washers until new fluid appears: Switching fluid colors makes this easy.

3. Run the air-conditioner. In order to remove condensation and frost from the interior of windows, engage your air-conditioner and select the fresh air option: It’s fine to set the temperature on “hot.” Many cars automatically do this when you choose the defrost setting.

4. Check your lights. Use your headlights so that others will see you and, we hope, not pull out in front of you. Make sure your headlights and taillights are clear of snow. If you have an older car with sand-pitted headlights, get a new set of lenses. To prevent future pitting, cover the new lens with a clear tape like that used to protect the leading edge of helicopter rotor blades and racecar wings. It’s available from auto-racing supply sites.

5. Give yourself a break. Learn how to get maximum efficiency from your brakes before an emergency. It’s easy to properly use antilock brakes: Stomp, stay, and steer. Stomp on the pedal as if you were trying to snap it off. Stay hard on the pedal. Steer around the obstacle. (A warning: A little bit of steering goes a very long way in an emergency. See Tip 8.) If you drive on icy roads or roads that are covered with snow, modify your ABS technique: After you “Stomp” and the ABS begins cycling — you will feel pulses in the pedal or hear the system working — ease up slightly on the pedal until the pulsing happens only once a second. For vehicles without ABS, you’ll have to rely on the old-fashioned system: You. For non-ABS on a mixed-surface road, push the brake pedal hard until the wheels stop rolling, then immediately release the brake enough to allow the wheels to begin turning again. Repeat this sequence rapidly. This is not the same as “pumping the brake.” Your goal is to have the tires producing maximum grip regardless of whether the surface is snow, ice, or damp pavement.

6. Watch carefully for “black ice.” If the road looks slick, it probably is. This is especially true with one of winter’s worst hazards: “black ice.” Also called “glare ice,” this is nearly transparent ice that often looks like a harmless puddle or is overlooked entirely. Test the traction with a smooth brake application or slight turn of the wheel.

7. Remember the tough spots. Race drivers must memorize the nuances of every track, so they can alter their path for changing track conditions. You must remember where icy roads tend to occur. Bridges and intersections are common places. Also: wherever water runs across the road. I know people who lost control of ice caused by homeowners draining above-ground pools and by an automatic lawn sprinkler that sprayed water onto a street in freezing temperatures.

8. Too much steering is bad. If a slick section in a turn causes your front tires to lose grip, the common — but incorrect — reaction is to continue turning the steering wheel. That’s like writing checks on an overdrawn account: It won’t improve the situation and may make things worse. If the icy conditions end and the front tires regain grip, your car will dart whichever way the wheels are pointed. That may be into oncoming traffic or a telephone pole. Something very similar happens if you steer too much while braking with ABS. Sadly, there are situations where nothing will prevent a crash, but turning the steering too much never helps.

9. Avoid rear-tire slides. First, choose a car with electronic stability control. Fortunately, ESC will be mandatory on all 2012 models. Next, make sure your rear tires have at least as much tread as your front tires. Finally, if you buy winter tires, get four.

10. Technology offers no miracles. All-wheel drive and electronic stability control can get you into trouble by offering a false sense of security. AWD can only help a vehicle accelerate or keep moving: It can’t help you go around a snow-covered turn, much less stop at an icy intersection. ESC can prevent a spinout, but it can’t clear ice from the roads or give your tires more traction. Don’t let these lull you into overestimating the available traction.

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Hippokranuse · 2 years ago

Good tips.

2 upvotes on reddit

creatus_offspring · 2 years ago

Thanks!

1 upvotes on reddit

Ancient72 · 2 years ago

Be careful and stay out ouf the body shop and the hospital.

2 upvotes on reddit

poposplants · 2 years ago

Also know yourself, be honest about it. If you're lacking the skills to drive in bad weather, don't drive. Stay home. I am not the worst driver in the world, but I know I'm not great. I'm just not. And I don't push my luck. I know my limits and keep my driving in the pasture.

3 upvotes on reddit

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r/Truckers • [3]

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Any winter driving tips? I’m new

Posted by AyuOk · in r/Truckers · 1 year ago

1 upvotes on reddit

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Additional_Lime645 · 1 year ago

If there is mist coming off of the tires of cars passing you the road probably isn't frozen, yet. If you do end up driving on ice stay slow like 15-20 mph slow and find a safe place to park asap until the roads have been salted/thawed out. Don't accelerate or brake quickly, even if you are fully loaded you will lose traction on a frozen road. You have final say in wether that truck rolls or not so if you feel unsafe, stop. No load is worth your life.

2 upvotes on reddit

Dutchbroski · 1 year ago

Go slow and stay off the breaks as much as you can. Don't oversteer or use your engine break as it reduces your control over the truck.

4 upvotes on reddit

EducationalReach4894 · 1 year ago

If you drive in a state that requires you to chain up during snowy days, just park the truck.

1 upvotes on reddit

marauderselegy · 1 year ago

Don't be afraid to say no. It's way easier to find another job without the accident if you're company has a problem with you stopping.

5 upvotes on reddit

ExpedientDemise · 1 year ago

You have a cell phone and it probably has a weather app. Plan ahead. Look for bad weather and try to keep ahead of it, shifting hours if you need.

If ice is coming, park early. People push it until the last minute, then get stuck for parking.

1 upvotes on reddit

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r/driving • [4]

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Best tips for driving safely in bad weather?

Posted by ManagementGiving3241 · in r/driving · 3 months ago

Driving in rain, snow, or fog can get really tricky and stressful. What are some practical tips or habits you follow to stay safe on the road when the weather turns bad? Are there any things you wish you knew when you first started driving in these conditions? Would love to learn from your experience!

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haus11 · 3 months ago

Turn lights on. Increase following distances, so you dont have to make sudden moves. Keep up with the flow of traffic. Dont panic. If you're not able to do these things, get off the road.

21 upvotes on reddit

blamemeididit · 3 months ago

And DO NOT turn on your hazards during the snow/rain. It is not helpful to the driver behind you.

13 upvotes on reddit

Chemical-Silver-209 · 3 months ago

In the event someone is stressed and overwhelmed by driving, hazards immediately signal distress and intent to alter current course. I’d rather them use them and me understand instead of raging behind the car going 15 under for a reason I have no idea about. I tow a lot, often into hard to reach areas with a triple axle and 25k/lbs of lumber. My hazards are often on and I’m going 15 under. I’m not going to just go slow and not signify that’s ignorant

2 upvotes on reddit

Alas93 · 3 months ago

all this

and also to add, don't jerk the car around unnecessarily. this means things like sudden starts or stops, sharp turns, etc. this is one reason you want to increase following distances. sudden changes of momentum in bad weather can be exacerbated heavily and turn into slides. you don't need to go super slow in rain and such (unless it's so bad you can't see), but you do want to make sure you're coasting at an even speed and have the ability to make controlled stops and turns.

also, I know we all hate spending money, but splurge on your tires. Get good tires. And get good tires before your old ones are bald. Good tires with lots of tread on them will make a massive difference in bad weather.

3 upvotes on reddit

therealjohnsmith · 3 months ago

The flow of traffic is a factor. Also should be said that driving slower in weather is very important. I drive like I stole it when it's sunny. Am one of the slower cars on the road in conditions, though. Hard to know when a patch of water or ice can make you lose control.

2 upvotes on reddit

Bk_Punisher · 3 months ago

To this I’d add “get as far off the road as possible” I’ll pull way over onto the grass, as far from traffic as possible.

1 upvotes on reddit

New-Position-3845 · 3 months ago

Always slow down and get out there when traffic is light learn how you car will drive in those conditions. Also, think about your tire choice if snow is common get a winter set.

10 upvotes on reddit

blamemeididit · 3 months ago

When it snows, go to a school parking lot and practice steering and stopping so that you get a feel for the car.

3 upvotes on reddit

Dug_n_the_Dogs · 3 months ago

practice practice practice.

Yes.. empty parking lot. practice hitting the gas too hard and feel what its like to slip.. how to slow the wheels down to gain traction. Slam on the brakes to feel what its like to lose steering and again.. let off the brakes to see how it feels to regain steering.

Lots of things to learn while the stakes are low so that you have that feeling and natural reaction when you're in actual situations on the road.

3 upvotes on reddit

MuttJunior · 3 months ago

The biggest safety tip is not to drive in such weather. If you want to make a trip to the store during bad weather, wait and go when the weather improves. It's unlikely they will run out of everything during the storm.

But if you have to have to go out in such weather, take it easy. Speed limits are the MAXIMUM speed you are allowed to drive, not the only speed. You can drive slower if the conditions call for it.

Also keep your vehicle well maintained. Don't ignore tires that the treads are worn down. Make sure your lights are working. Have good windshield wiper blades that don't smear. and so on.

4 upvotes on reddit

KoalaOfTheApocalypse · 3 months ago

TL;DR - if you hydroplane, hold the steering wheel straight as you can an keep your feet off both pedals. Also, never use cruise control in the rain.

I suck at snow driving. Idk why. I guess b/c only once every year or two.

But I can tell you about the wet, specifically hydroplaning.

Hydroplaning is when the tires basically skim across the water, no contact with pavement. Similar to how a rock can skip over water. You will feel it.

I've been passenger in multiple wrecks where the driver freaked out at a hydroplane; over-correcting, slamming on brakes, etc.

Unless you are on a sharp curve, this is what you do when you hydroplane: hold the wheel straight. Foot off the pedals, hold the wheel straight as you can.

The car will regain traction. And when it does, it will go whichever way the wheel is pointing, or whichever way the brakes are applied harder. (slam on brakes, right side is hydroplaning, but left side is not so you get two different brake forces and it can super easily spin the car out) I've gotten it down to an art form, holding steady when I hydroplane. It works.

I've ended up in two ditches and an interstate median because the drivers did the things I mentioned - over corrected at the first hint of a wiggle, or slam on brakes (we did three 360 spins, bounced off guard rail and landed in the median after she slammed on brakes)

Now, it's a bit more tricky on some curves, but depending on speed and degrees of curve, it's usually manageable. In the worst scenario where your car just instantly starts spinning before you even know what's going on... well all you can do is pucker the old sphincter and keep your arms out of the way of the airbags.

Finally, idk if it's a problem with modern cruise control, but for a long time cruise control could contribute to spinning out in heavy rain, especially if it's the drive wheel that hydroplanes. Idk if that ever got fixed or is still an issue, but I just keep myself to that rule - no cruise control in the rain.

3 upvotes on reddit

New-Grapefruit1737 · 3 months ago

Slow down.

Increase following distances.

No distractions.

Avoid slamming on the brakes.

Turn on lights.

Allow yourself more travel time, avoid rushing.

Keep car well maintained — good windshield wipers, tires, lights, etc.

Clear your car of snow and ice thoroughly before driving it.

6 upvotes on reddit

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r/AskReddit • [5]

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With winter coming up what are some helpful tips for beginner drivers driving in the snow?

Posted by LouisVuittonGlock · in r/AskReddit · 2 years ago

2 upvotes on reddit

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[deleted] · 2 years ago

Never slam on your breaks. Even though modern cars have abs you will always stop faster if you pump the breaks to keep your wheels spinning until you stop. If you slam on your breaks you surely will slide. And stop slowly, keep around 4-5 seconds behind the vehicle in front of you if possible as a just in case you need to stop and ease onto the gas.

Also get winter tires. Trust me they are absolutely worth the cost

4 upvotes on reddit

Fosterandrewbell · 2 years ago

Ha ha never EVER slam on those brakes

2 upvotes on reddit

Friedumb · 2 years ago

Go as fast as you can brake, don't ride the brakes but slowly apply as needed (abs only does so much), and avoid hills.

If you live in a hilly area chains are key; always have them in the vehicle just in case.

Practice helps a lot, drive around your neighborhood after a decent snow just to get used to it. If you get stuck you won't be far from home.

Don't park on the street if you have snowplows.

Keep warm clothes/blanket in your vehicle just in case you do get stuck.

I know it sounds pretty rough, but go outside on a full moon with snow on the ground and it makes up for the above issues imho.

Best of luck.

1 upvotes on reddit

[deleted] · 2 years ago

Just don’t drive if you don’t have 4x4

1 upvotes on reddit

batting1000bob · 2 years ago

Slow down.

2 upvotes on reddit

humanitymonster · 2 years ago

Always add 20-30 minutes for travel time, then drive either at or slightly below the speed limit. Always assume that you are the only sane driver on the roads. Get SNOW tires (the ones with the snowflake in the mountain icon), or studded tires if your area allows it.

2 upvotes on reddit

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r/drivingUK • [6]

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Winter driving tips for a driver of only 1 year?

Posted by CandyCane147 · in r/drivingUK · 1 year ago

Been driving for about a year and a half, but didn’t need to drive in winter last year as I wasn’t working. Any tips? Thanks!

3 upvotes on reddit

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420o · 1 year ago

If conditions are bad, avoid driving if possible. Work from home if you can and unnecessary trips can wait. It's not just your driving to worry about, too many idiots on the roads.

Most main roads should be gritted so they are mostly fine but still be cautious. Slow and steady otherwise. Avoid heavy inputs, hard acceleration and steering will only increase the risk of losing control and your brakes are pretty useless in ice, often making things worse.

If you can get to a large open car park or something where it would be safe to practice it wouldn't be a bad idea to see how your car handles in the snow/ice. Experience is key at the end of the day but best to gain that somewhere with minimal risk.

6 upvotes on reddit

redmist1001 · 1 year ago

1.Take an advanced driving course. 2.If you feel your car slip don't fight it , let it go as fighting the wheel can cause more harm than good .,When Your car slips it is because your tires lost traction and when you try to correct this you put unnatural movement in the wheels causing them to lose traction for longer. If you let the car correct the slip naturally it generally will unless it's a big loss of steering. 3. If a Manual gearbox you want to get to as high gear as possible as soon as possible from standing still but not speeding up usually 2 nd gear as soon as you can for more traction and grip. 4. Set off steady and don't accelerate too quickly feel the grip of your car through the wheel. 5.its often better to use engine breaking rather than the actual brakes at low speeds to come to gentle stop . Archive this by leaving a bigger gap in front of you and rather than press the brake pedal lift your foot off the accelerator. Remember breaks lock your wheels and therefore like letting a car correct a slide this is opposite when you heavy break you can cause your car to loose traction and there before cause your car to slip.

All of the above is what driving a vehicle is actually about, learning to control what is beneath you as lets not forget vehicles are weapons in the wrong hands .

1 upvotes on reddit

furrycroissant · 1 year ago

Just take it very steady, trundle along in 2nd if it's safest. If you hit ice and start spinning, don't sit on the breaks. Screw what anyone else is doing, or speeds, just do what feels safest. And only put your fogs on if it's actually foggy!

4 upvotes on reddit

Nonny-Mouse100 · 1 year ago

Any steep hills, use your handbrake....

Not for handbrake turns. I mean pull it on just one or two clicks, depending on slack to apply some resistance on the rear wheels. Then use low gear to to apply resistance to the front wheels.

Also, go to an industrial estate or carpark when empty and practice. Also deliberately skid in this practice to find out how you handle it.

Slow speed, plenty of space for mistakes.

3 upvotes on reddit

IanM50 · 1 year ago

Accelerate gently and only in a straight line,
Slow down gently, brake earlier but be less harsh.
Slow down earlier for corners, so that you are able to corner more gently.
Cars like to go in a straight line - so do not accelerate around corners, if you have to, be gentle. Try not to overtake anything as you will have to change direction to pull out and that's another time the car can slide out of control.
Slow down earlier for junctions so that the car will definitely be able to stop at the right place. 5 mph for the last 3 metres is great - just in case.
Leave a larger gap between you and the vehicle in front, remember the highway code stopping distance, if your wheels lock up or slide, you will need more braking distance, so give yourself that space. Do this anyway when it isn't slippy, it gives you more time to react if the car ahead does something suddenly - many accidents are caused by drivers being too close to the car in front.
Check all your lights, front, back, fog, and indicators, are working (Tip. Park with a plate glass shop window behind you, and you can see your lights in the reflection).
Before you drive, check your lights are not obscured by snow or ice.
Remember to give yourself more time to get places - to de-ice the windscreen, side windows and mirrors and because you'll be driving more carefully.
Keep fresh drinking water, some chocolate bars, a good coat, and a thick blanket in the car - imagine braking down and you being stuck for 2 hours waiting in the cold for a recovery vehicle.
If you are in the countryside, stick a spade, welly boots and a tub of sand or grit in the car to help dig yourself out of snow or ice.

14 upvotes on reddit

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r/FocusST • [7]

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Any tips for snow driving?

Posted by Hawkfan15 · in r/FocusST · 3 years ago

I'm not super experienced driving in snow, and I'm about to be driving from Seattle to Portland in what is shaping up to be a snowstorm. Any tips?

5 upvotes on reddit

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rambleon84 · 3 years ago

Find an empty parking lot... Then try some panic stops and try to break traction while turning or upsetting the car's balance. Do some hand brake turns to get the car to slide and get used to steering where you want to go to recover.

Good to learn the car in a controlled environment before it happens in traffic or at speed.

7 upvotes on reddit

TaxCPA · 3 years ago

I always do this the first snow of the season to feel where the limits of the car are. This is also how I taught my wife to drive in the snow.

3 upvotes on reddit

rambleon84 · 3 years ago

It's also really fun lol. When I'm in my neighborhood and it's snow covered (no one around) I'll do some light handbrake drifting through the turns. Much fun

2 upvotes on reddit

ImyourDingleberry999 · 3 years ago

Drive like you have your grandma in the seat next to you with a hot pot of gravy and you're going to a church potluck lunch.

53 upvotes on reddit

black_hawk3456 · 3 years ago

Since everyone already suggested some tips, I suggest finding a parking lot and doing handbrake skids lol

20 upvotes on reddit

Zieterbock · 3 years ago

And watch out for Mustangs/Camaros.

Don't understand it but here in Texas, if it snows, wrecked mustangs replace all the stop signs.

6 upvotes on reddit

Mindless-Purchase-98 · 3 years ago

Drive cautious and conservative, brake easily and earlier than you anticipate you’ll need to, easy and smooth wheel movements, make sure you have a full tank of windshield washer fluid for shitty crummy slush being thrown up from vehicles ahead of you. Leave good distance between you and vehicles ahead. Especially if you have all season rubbers on versus winters

19 upvotes on reddit

Cory-FocusST · 3 years ago

All of this.

If you live somewhere that sees snow every year, snow tires are absolutely worth the investment. Like seriously, do it.

4 upvotes on reddit

GLVCIER · 3 years ago

What the previous guy said is all great tips. Just take your time. If someone is up your ass, let them be.

Have the mindset that every driver is worse than you so watch them all carefully.

8 upvotes on reddit

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r/lifehacks • [8]

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Snow Driving Tips

Posted by burntcravemax · in r/lifehacks · 8 months ago

With the weather getting worse, and snow storms breaking out, i thought it would be a great idea to share some potentially life saving information for driving in the snow.

Pump your breaks if conditions seem questionable, black ice is a nightmare and you almost never ever see it coming, pumping your breaks will help you slow down while also reducing the risk of locking up your tires and spinning out.
Give yourself a few extra feet when behind another driver, usually this would be common knowledge, but for whatever reason people tend to forget about giving others space on the road.
Don’t turn on your high beams, i know it sounds like it would help, but you’re just gonna make your visibility worse.
Don’t gas it around turns, you’ll be in Tokyo drift MY QUALIFICATIONS : I’ve lived in New England (specifically New Hampshire for 20 years)

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International_Bet_91 · 8 months ago

I was eager to read this as I don't know how to drive in the snow.

Then I read "pump your brakes" and know I couldn't trust anything else :(

3 upvotes on reddit

TheFlyingBoxcar · 8 months ago

No need to “pump your brakes” if you have ABS (which you almost certainly do.)

What you need to do is be familiar with the unsettling feeling of ABS activating. The brake pedal will pulsate very quickly under your foot when the ABS activates, you’ll be tempted to release pressure. Dont. Keep braking hard, look where you want to go and steer steadily in that direction. Do NOT look at what youre trying to avoid, you steer where you look and you’ll go where you’re looking.

The best advice is take 10 minutes in an empty parking lot and practice making sharp turns and quick starts and stops. Do this to get a feel for how your car behaves in those conditions. This is knowledge you should have BEFORE you need it.

Source; Ive been driving large, heavy emergency vehicles for over 20 years, taken professional driving courses at my local racetrack and completed a 3-day precision driving school for aspiring stunt drivers. I also drive extensively in the Lake Tahoe region all winter.

18 upvotes on reddit

Johnnycarroll · 8 months ago

The practice is key--especially so you're comfortable with your car. When you start to spin out, you don't have time to think "do I need to steer into this or out of this", you need that muscle memory to kick in immediately.

I want to add--you totally can drive too slowly, especially in ice in snow. As long as you have control of your vehicle, give yourself plenty of room for error and correction and maintain a speed that is comfortable. I've had plenty of times I've been afraid of making sure I had enough momentum to continue, to the point where it's more dangerous than just driving faster--especially going up a slope.

1 upvotes on reddit

FishyOGx3 · 8 months ago

Bingo. When it was 16 and it snowed my dad took my to a Walmart parking lot and said go nuts in our car.

I knew how the car would handle in the snow and then he taught me how to fix the dumbshit I was doing. I'll never forget that lesson.. along with "drive like everyone else is trying to kill you."

11 upvotes on reddit

Wes_Warhammer666 · 8 months ago

My very first driving lesson was in a snowy parking lot. My old man said "if you learn how to drive in this shit, everything else will be a piece of cake" and he was 100% correct. I've been able to safely navigate the hills of Pittsburgh for 20 years despite our city's utterly disgraceful attempts at plowing and salting the roads.

In a few years when my own kiddo is getting ready to drive, she's gonna have her first lesson in the snow just like I did.

1 upvotes on reddit

Posraman · 8 months ago

Or just use engine brakes by shifting your car to a lower* gear and gently push the brakes.

Most automatic cars have an option to manually select a gear for reasons like this.

1 upvotes on reddit

ItsSomething9 · 8 months ago

Don't pump your brakes if you have anti lock brakes ( pretty much any car made after 2005 ), it will do a better job than you ever could pumping.

The only exception is if you are on a surface where you need to lock the wheels to accumulate snow or gravel in front of your tires to slow down. ABS will never allow this, so it can extend stopping distances in those rare occasions.

And few more car lengths is better than a few feet if it's slippery, and do it before you KNOW it's slippery so when you find out it won't be from hitting something because you didn't have enough grip.

And PRACTICE in a safe area ( empty parking lot ) every winter to get your snow reflexes back and to understand how your driver assist options work beyond just antilock brakes.

10 upvotes on reddit

PhreeBeer · 8 months ago

Was going to say this, but you beat me to it.

Also, automatic transmission users should shift into neutral (practice it!) so that the engine isn't driving the wheels while you're trying to slow down or stop. Manual transmission driver should be doing this automatically by clutching in.

Also learn and practice how to steer out of a skid.

-1 upvotes on reddit

Wes_Warhammer666 · 8 months ago

Neutral is no good, because sometimes you need to accelerate to regain traction. Popping it into low gear is a far better way to use the engine to slow down without giving up your ability to accelerate if needed. You don't wanna be stuck having to switch gears when all you needed was to tap the gas.

1 upvotes on reddit

redyellowblue5031 · 8 months ago

(Respectfully) Strongly disagree about neutral in almost all scenarios.

That means you are only coasting and have no control to accelerate (which can be used to correct a slide) and in many ways less control to decelerate (you can only rely on brakes).

Downshifting or staying in a lower gear before an incline or challenging section will allow the engine to help slow you down/maintain speed without needing to use the brakes much if at all (referred to as engine braking). Turning wheels have better traction than locked up wheels or wheels utilizing ABS in that moment.

2 upvotes on reddit

SmilingFool25 · 8 months ago

Biggest tip: slow down. That’s it. That’s the tip. It’s not sexy and yet it’s the most effective thing you can possibly do.

Source: Been driving in Vermont weather for 30 years, never gone off the road.

10 upvotes on reddit

blackpony04 · 8 months ago

Well, driving slowly, keeping plenty of space between you and other traffic, having tires with good tread, and decelerating without using brakes as much as possible.

I'm approaching the 40 year licensed club and I too (knock the eff on wood) have never ditched it while living half my life in Northern Illinois and half in the Buffalo Area.

The people that cause accidents are the ones jamming on their brakes instead of letting off the gas pedal and slowly applying pressure to the brakes if necessary. That's how you skid and lose control. The major exception is with severely iced over roads as sometimes you're just screwed no matter how careful you are.

1 upvotes on reddit

See 12 replies

r/nanaimo • [9]

Summarize

WINTER DRIVING TIPS

Posted by stygarfield · in r/nanaimo · 7 months ago

Stay home. Only go out if necessary. Even if you can drive well in bad weather, it’s better to avoid taking unnecessary risks by venturing out.

Drive slowly. Always adjust your speed down to account for lower traction when driving on snow or ice.

Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry and take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.

Increase your following distance to five to six seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.

Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.

Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.

Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads will just make your wheels spin. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill slowly.

Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill. If you see someone at the bottom of a hill with a dixie cup and snacks, that's probably me, and I'm probably laughing at people.

Extra things you may want to carry in your car

Snow Brush
Extra Gloves
Spare set of clothes
Shovel

FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING. CLEAR THE SNOW/ICE FROM YOUR CAR BEFORE DRIVING. NOT JUST YOUR WINDOWS.

11 upvotes on reddit

6 replies

Helpful

Not helpful

6 replies

PlantEnvyNanaimo · 7 months ago

One thing I learned from living in Alberta: Winter tires are phenomenal.

1 upvotes on reddit

Magnet10 · 7 months ago

People can barely drive here when the streets are clear

4 upvotes on reddit

Various_Guarantee407 · 7 months ago

Lots of sketchy people on the road that have no business being out there!

1 upvotes on reddit

Opposite_Contract721 · 7 months ago

I second this, I was behind a white car yesterday going 5 down uplands

1 upvotes on reddit

Spenraw · 7 months ago

Love a helpful guide for people

2 upvotes on reddit

Dark2099 · 7 months ago

And if you do need to go out - clear the damn snow off your car and windows so you aren’t an additional hazard to everybody else.

2 upvotes on reddit

See 6 replies

r/boulder • [10]

Summarize

Winter driving tips

Posted by Numerous_Recording87 · in r/boulder · 1 year ago

Slow down.
Slow down.
Slow down.

73 upvotes on reddit

12 replies

Helpful

Not helpful

12 replies

HazelFlame54 · 1 year ago

Get some winter tires. I don’t care if you drive a Subaru, get the fucking tires.

45 upvotes on reddit

mohneyswing · 1 year ago

Winter tires help you accelerate faster, but they don’t do anything to help you stop. All weather tires should be fine, but everyone drives like it’s mad max.

-42 upvotes on reddit

SimilarLee · 1 year ago

Winter tires help you accelerate faster, but they don’t do anything to help you stop

100% incorrect. The appropriate tires for any season or surface, winter and cold conditions included, both decrease stopping distance and increase maneuverability. Tire compound and tread pattern, and also tread depth, work in concert to drastically improve driving safety. After all, the wheels are the things on your car that make contact with the road.

I think the maxim you're misremembering here is that four wheel drive doesn't mean four wheel stop, an allusion to the tendency of people with those vehicles to underestimate stopping distance in such vehicles. These days, even that isn't entirely correct, since the most modern AWD cars and trucks incorporate sensors and special actuators that will allow for both:

ABS-driven pulsing of the brakes to stop sliding. Sliding lengthens braking distances. It's more advantageous to keep the contact patch of the tire at least somewhat rolling, for reasons related to dynamic vs static friction ratios
management of active and passive differential torque between driven wheels. This achieve overall vehicular directionality based on sensors like steering angle and body yaw.

IOW: both snow tires and modern AWD/braking systems work together to better control turning and deceleration (here used as a driving, not physics, term).

Edits for readability and extra unwanted depth

30 upvotes on reddit

Regular-Divide6645 · 1 year ago

Winter tires definitely help you stop so long as you don't slam your brakes and skid. Absolutely get winter tires and always assume black ice. That's what will really get you

7 upvotes on reddit

HazelFlame54 · 1 year ago

If you’re driving up in the mountains without snows, you can get a ticket.

-5 upvotes on reddit

ChristianLS · 1 year ago

Pro tip: There are three-peak, fully winter-rated all-weather tires you can buy that perform almost as well as dedicated winter tires that you have to swap on. These are different from your standard "all seasons" that come with a lot of cars.

29 upvotes on reddit

rsta223 · 1 year ago

No. There aren't.

There are ones that perform well enough, but the gap between those and true dedicated good winter tires (I recommend Nokian, personally), is still pretty large.

2 upvotes on reddit

boulderbuford · 1 year ago

Winter tires are the wrong tires for most front-range drivers:

They're worse on dry & wet than regular tires
They wear down fast on hot & dry pavement
Colorado roads: dry almost all winter
Worse milage, bad for the environment

Unless you're spending a lot of time in the mountains or driving up there routinely in the worse conditions - just getting very good all season tires:

You combine those tires with all-wheel-drive or 4wd and you're generally set. The specific cases where you might be better with a good set of snow tires if if you need the better low-temp rubber for braking on ice below zero, or if you need the bigger lugs & gaps for driving through 12" of wet snow. The braking benefit is real, but the best all-weather tires are very good at low temps. And more important than your tires - is simply driving slower on slippery conditions.

8 upvotes on reddit

zenslakr · 1 year ago

Don't follow too close
Don't brake or accelerate on a curve. Slow down before the curves.
If you find yourself in a slide take your foot off the gas and the brake, just steer.

40 upvotes on reddit

flacdada · 1 year ago

I’ll have you know op. I’m the worlds best show driver. That’s because I don’t drive in the snow.

11 upvotes on reddit

Numerous_Recording87 · OP · 1 year ago

Yep. Once the streets get dicey, if at all possible, just don’t drive.

6 upvotes on reddit

FatahRuark · 1 year ago

Slow down yes...but sometimes momentum is your friend (when going uphill). Avoid hitting the brakes if possible. If you do need to apply the brakes do so "gracefully" and early. Downshift if you're going down a long hill (vs. riding your brakes). Keep a safe distance (in snow, 6 seconds to the car in front of you is ideal).

And most importantly stay home if you can. We know it's going to snow today. Stock up on food, and stay home. Buffs play tonight. Maybe make a nice meal and enjoy some football.

7 upvotes on reddit

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