For those of us who weren’t born and raised in the High Country, snow is kind of a big deal.
Given a few inches, most of us mountaineer girls have to center our day around taking pictures in the snow, making snow cream, and building snowmen (cue “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”). Though all of this is in good fun, when faced with a drive across town, being unfamiliar with this type of winter weather is dangerous.
Every year, there are more than 1.5 million car accidents associated with poor driving conditions caused by weather.
Don’t be another statistic! If you are forced to venture out in inclement weather, here are some tips that could help you arrive safe and sound.
1. If you have to leave, be prepared.
I cant say this enough, but unless it is absolutely necessary, don’t tempt fate. Even if you are adept at navigating icy roads, other drivers may not know what they are doing.
If you must take your chances, it’s crucial that you have the right equipment. Needless to say. your car can’t grip the road without safe tires, and you can’t see without wiper blades in good condition, and working headlights. In addition to the basics, make sure your car is equipped with wiper fluid that has antifreeze in it, and also make sure your car has at least half a tank of gas in it. If youre close to “E”, condensation can build in your tank and cause your fuel line to freeze, making it impossible for your car to even start.
Before you leave, be extra careful to scrape ice and snow completely off of both windshields. Yes those Boone winds sting, but not being able to see your surroundings is a sure way to cause an accident.
2. Go slower and leave more following distance.
The most important thing to remember when driving in the snow is to slow down and give yourself plenty of stopping distance between cars. On snow and ice, there is no reason to go above about 25 mph. According to AAA, the normal following distance on dry roads is three to four seconds, and it should be increased to eight to ten seconds in bad weather.
3. Skidding.
To avoid skidding in the first place, avoid accelerating through turns. You lose traction when you change direction or speed, but if you start to skid, don’t panic! If you try to slam on the breaks, or overcompensate for your turns, you will only lose more control.
If you start to move, gently turn the steering wheel in the direction that the rear of your car is sliding. Don’t forget to look in the direction you want to go; your hands follow where your eyes are pointing, so make sure you aren’t looking at the other lane or that telephone pole you’re approaching.
4. Stopping.
Don’t stop if you can help it. There is a huge difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much power it takes to get moving while you’re still rolling. You also have to take the cars behind you into consideration. If you stop, you risk getting hit from the back if the person behind you can’t stop in time.
If you absolutely can’t avoid it, make sure you don’t slam on your brakes. If you try to stop too fast, you lose traction, in essence losing even more control of your car. Let the vehicle slow down on its own by taking your foot off of the gas before gently trying the brakes. If your tires lock, take your foot off the brake pedal.
5. Taking hills.
One of the joys of living in the mountains are the rolling hills. In the winter, they prove to be a little difficult. Don’t accelerate up hills; pushing the gas pedal on an icy patch will only start your tires spinning! If you have to go somewhere steep, try to get some momentum before you get to the hill and let it carry you to the top. Once you’re at the top, do your best to slow down so you can coast down the other side gently.
6. If you get stuck…
If you get stuck in snow, straighten the wheels and accelerate slowly. Hitting the gas and spinning the wheels only digs you deeper. As a last resort, you can try putting the car in a low gear and backing up, stopping, and trying to move forward again. You can also try digging some of the snow out from around your tires. If you’re hopelessly stuck, for the time being, your best bet is to make your car visible by putting your hazards on and staying in the car out of the elements.
7. Keep in mind…
Many people with all wheel drive take a lot of pride in the extra grip their SUV offers. Although four wheel drive cars often do have better traction, they also give you a false sense of security. The truth is, a four-wheel drive vehicle is not able to drive faster or easier on icy roads. Four-wheel drive is for getting unstuck. A car with four-wheel drive will not stop any better than an ordinary car, because every car has four-wheel brakes.
Despite these tips, when storms hit the best scenario is that you don’t leave in the first place. If you don’t feel confident in your ability to get home safely, don’t risk it. Your friends, your boss, and your parents will understand!
Image links:
http://www.hcpress.com/img/SNOW-12-21-121.jpg
http://photo.accuweather.com/photogallery/2009/12/500/1d3200a27.jpg
http://blog.caasco.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/107375171.jpg