How do I drive in the snow covered roads, safely?

Question

How do I drive in the snow covered roads, safely?

Answer 1

From what I can remember from my conversations with my dad, drive slowly (duh), apply snow tires (or wrap your normal tires with chains. :D

Answer 2

Just go slow, leave plenty of space between you and the next car...like a lot of space! Snow tires like someone else said....and just give yourself plenty of time to get to where you are going safely....no need to rush! Be perpared for the worst....blankets and survival things (water, extra cloths and blankets...etc...) never hurt to have in the car.

If you don't HAVE to go out don't when roads are bad. Most places salt the roads but sometimes it will take time for the salt to do something with a heavy snowfall...so if you can delay going out until it warms up enough for the roads to clear more do so.

Good luck and be safe!

Answer 3

Buy a snow worthy car. Mine has 4 wheel drive and skid control. I drive through winding mountainous roads and it usually works fine. Go slow most of the time, but if you are on a private road or a parking lot containing no obstructions, you might want to pick up your speed and learn to control skids.

Answer 4

Well theres lots to learn by yourself...cross your fingers

Answer 5

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.

One other driving technique that needs to slow down is swerving, or sudden lane changes. Swerving on a snow-covered road is a one-way ticket to either an accident or the ditch. When driving on a snow-covered road, especially a highway, the only safe way to change lanes is nice and slow. It is very common for a mound of snow to build up between the traffic lanes before the plows have had time to totally clear the road. Any vehicle that swerves into one of these snow mounds has an increased chance of spinning out of control. This has to do with the angle between the tires and the snow mound plus the vehicle’s forward momentum. Slowly changing lanes reduces this angle and therefore increases the odds of successfully making the lane change.

The last and most important rule has to do with driving on snow and ice-covered roads. Any changing of direction, such as changing lanes or turning corners, must be done without acceleration. This requires the driver to allow their vehicle’s momentum to carry it through the direction change. In the case of changing lanes on the highway, simply let off the gas pedal and let the vehicle slowly coast to the other lane. A similar principle goes with turning corners in town. Ease off the gas and let the vehicle turn powered by its momentum. If turning a corner for a complete stop, use as little acceleration as possible. In some extremely snowy cases, rolling through a stop sign is necessary if there is a possibility of not getting the vehicle rolling again. This is not recommended, however, if attempted, this should be done with the utmost of caution. Using momentum to power a vehicle through a direction change on a snow-covered road is to minimize the chances of having the vehicle’s tires break free of the friction between them and the road. By turning the vehicle’s front wheels away from the direction parallel to the vehicle’s forward momentum, the chances of the vehicle’s tires breaking free and sending itself sliding out of control increase greatly.

Answer 6

no hard braking, fast accelerating, or sharp turns....everything is nice and easy.  and if you start to slide, DO NOT hit your brakes or the gas, just steer. I live in ohio so i have lots of practice with ice/snow.  any more questions just ask.

Answer 7

you got to use the gas and break if you are on a sheet of ice you must gently apply the breaks to slow down when you come to a complete stop give it some gas  and just keep on and on until you reach your stopping point

Answer 8

Safest way is not to bother - if you don't have to go out.

Answer 9

Drive more slowly than you normally would. When comming to a stop, tap your brakes in short intervals until you slow down . If you start to fishtail (the back of the car swings in one direction from the front like you are going to spin around) let go of the wheel and the gas until you come out of it, you will feel the difference. When slipping on ice, my husband puts the car in neutral, it slows the car down. and remember to stay calm, driving in the snow can be hard if you never did it before, just remember to go slow!

Answer 10

Drive slowly and take your time.  Get chains or studded tires.