How can i drive safely in the snow?

Question

It's snowing alot where i am and it's showing no signs of stopping, i finish work at 5 and have to drive about 8 miles home. I work in the countryside and it's very unlikely the roads have been gritted here! Apart from driving slowly is there anything else i can do to make it as safe as possible?

Answer 1

Know when not to challenge Mother Nature.  Sometimes it's better to leave early or sleep in town than try to make it home.

Remember, driving is physics - snow reduces your traction, so make your moves gradual.  Think farther ahead than you usually do.

If at all possible, don't let the vehicle come to a complete stop - it takes too much to get it going ahead.  In the worst conditions, that might mean not stopping for stop signs if the way is clear.

If you can, find a 5-ton or transport truck going in your direction - they act as a snowplow, a guide and, since their stopping length is greater than yours, they can have the accident instead of you.

Make sure somebody knows when you left and how long you expect to be, so if you do go into the ditch, they'll know to come looking for you.

In the final analysis, the car is expendable - you are not.

Answer 2

When moving away, use low revs you or you will end up wheel spinning and once you've lost traction its not easy to get it back.

High gears + low revs = more torque

Low gears + high revs = less torque

(on a side note/story theres a woman here i like to sit and laugh at as she has a piccasso, when its covered she tries to move away by ramming her foot down. I could sit for hours and watch her sliding side to side lol)

Answer 3

do you have chains on your wheels

Answer 4

take a train

Answer 5

Don't drive...get train instead...

Answer 6

invest in a snowplow!!! lol sorry..... just take your time mate. Bad driving is the source of most accidents in bad weather. respect the snow

Answer 7

Keep a slow, steady speed and allow double the normal distance behind the car in front.  Avoid breaking sharply as this will cause your wheels to lock up and make you skid.

If you start to skid either from breaking or from the slippery road, remember to steer into the skid.

Answer 8

First, a vehicle cannot slow down and stop rapidly.

Remember, everything slows down.

On dry roads, automobiles depend upon their brakes to reduce their speed and fiction between the tires and the road to reduce their momentum and stop.

On snow-covered roads there is significantly less fiction between the tires and the road, and therefore it takes longer for the vehicle to lose its momentum and come to a complete stop.

So, if a driver rapidly applied his brakes on a snow-covered road, his vehicle is very likely to go into a slide.

The severity of the vehicle’s slide would depend upon the amount of forward momentum present when the vehicle’s tires broke free from the little remaining friction between them and the road.

There is a method for slowing a vehicle safely in the snow. This requires the driver to apply the brakes with a pumping fashion.

By pumping the brakes, this action reduces the vehicle’s momentum without giving the vehicle’s tires ample time to break free of the friction between them and the road.

Also, remember that since everything slows down, coming to a complete stop will take a greater distance than during dry road conditions.

Next, if a vehicle cannot stop rapidly, a vehicle cannot start rapidly.

Any attempts to accelerate suddenly on snow will always result in the vehicle’s tires spinning freely.

Rapid acceleration while on a snow-covered highway, such as an attempt to pass, is equally bad and can result in the vehicle spinning out of control.

Remember, since everything slows down, take it easy on the accelerator pedal and only increase the vehicle’s speed slowly.....................................

Answer 9

slow. or take the bus.

Answer 10

Drive very slowly.

Answer 11

i say stay in a low geer and drive steady. call some one before you leave just to let them know your on your way. be carefull

Answer 12

drive in second gear......or jus plain slow......make sure u got ya lights on...be extra aware of whats happening around you....drive slow around bends etc

xx

Answer 13

Just take it steady, theres nothing else other than getting snow chains on your tyres or not driving.

Answer 14

You could always sleep at work!  If you're not sure of the 8 mile trip, get a ride from someone who is willing to take you home!

Answer 15

No sudden braking or accelerating, or wheel turning for that matter. Keep it in low gear, and creep, particularly if you have no experience of driving on snow. And make sure you clear all your windows BEFORE you move off!!!