Snow driving is commonsense if one thinks about it. The problem is people do not think about changes in driving conditions. I live in an area where the foulest weather is rain. Yet every year when it first rains after a dry season, drivers make several mistakes such as driving too fast as if the roads are dry. Driving fast is dangerous on dry roads. Many accidents. Think ahead and your troubles will be minimized.
24
Dear jerks in large pickups,
The laws of physics apply to you too, even if you choose to believe they don’t.
Sincerely,
Everyone else on the road
369
If you can’t drive at least 45mph on the interstate then stay off the road. Trucks and cars that need to get some where this century are forced to pass in the left which is always in worse shape. Driving defensively is one thing driving scared is another.
Driving in snow is simple.
1, Tires, tires, tires are everything. Half worn out tires may be “legal” but not effective.
2, Don’t make sharp turns or jerk the wheels suddenly left or right. As long as your tires are pointed strait ahead you have unlimited traction. Turn to the side and your traction is the width of your tire. If you go through a snow pile, don’t panic, keep a firm grip and keep those tires strait.
3, Don’t drive in your highest gear (overdrive). Drive in 4th gear or just below D. This will keep your engine from searching for a gear when you tack up and gives you 2x the engine braking than if you were in D (overdrive).
4, When you feel a little sliding, get off the power. Regain control and keep moving. Don’t be afraid. Fear is what causes accidents.
5, Don’t think because you can’t see the lines you can drive down the middle of the highway. Ride the rumble strip on the right lane breakdown lane edge and get out of the way.
Did I mention tires are everything!!!!
44
in st. paul some years back on a day when the road was one big hockey rink, i glanced in my rear view and saw an SUV, brakes locked up, sliding toward me around 25 mph or so. i grimaced and braced for impact. at the last second, he released the brakes and the beast jumped the grassy center boulevard on Summit Ave. and stopped half on- half off the roadway. the moral to my old man story: NEVER slam the brakes on ice and wet snow. u lose all control of the car.
40
Hakkapeliittas or Blizzaks make all the difference.
22
The first days with hard pack snow on the roadways is like a Darwinian experiment meant for under resourced cars. Those tires with little tread or stupid drivers are the first to become extinct - crashing out or ending up in a ditch. Unfortunately, these failed creatures on wheels ofttimes take out adjacent cars in their headlong path to the graveyard. So, the big message is; slow down and additionally avoid short distances between automobiles. Don't get tangled up with an endangered species! Use your rear view mirror too, get out of the lane of fast moving cars behind you. Let them pass into oblivion.
32
My job required me to drive tens of thousands of miles a year throughout the inter mountain west.
One day on Interstate 40 between Grants and Gallup, NM., the rain turned into snow. I was driving a full size pickup that weighed 3 tons empty.
Suddenly, with no input from me, the vehicle began losing control. I forgot I had the cruise control on and as the vehicle slowed because of snow resistance the cruise control system called for more power from the engine.
At 50MPH the truck did a 360 then a 180 and I was going down I-40 rear end first. The truck went backwards into the roughly 40 foot median between the opposing lanes and as it slowed to a stop the right front wheel and fender started to rise as if the truck was going to flip over.
I yelled out "STAY DOWN" and the truck naturally obeyed.
If there had been anything in the median-a concrete abutment or trees-I would have been killed at that speed if I hit it.
Incredibly, I was facing the opposite direct, put it in low and drove out of the median into the opposite lanes with no harm done.
Except to my shorts which I discarded at the next rest stop.
Don't drive with cruise control on in the snow. Duh!
109
Living in Denver, we drive in the city in the snow maybe 4 times a winter. I used to live in NW Wyoming but since moving here, I would never buy snow tires. For the remaining 361 days of the year, they’re not worth it.
However, Colorado has become such a popular place to live that the percentage of people on the roads during those few storms who know how to drive in snow is minimal at best.
While I agree going slow is the best bet, I find that people go so slowly (especially up the steep grades on the interstate to the mountain ski areas), that they lose traction. I submit that in fact maintaining a certain speed is crucial to getting up the hill (but not down!).
14
Driving a manual transmission car makes all the difference in winter, with far superior handling on both snow and ice than an automatic transmission has.
93
Everyone who has said slow and steady is so right. Years ago coming back from skiing, driving east on Rte 80 in North Jersey, my companion and I were doing just that during an 8-inch storm. Few cars on the road thank goodnesses but one just cruised by us at much greater speed. A mile or so on, as we turned a bend in the road, we looked and to our right and saw this auto front-first in a snow bank. Didn’t surprise us in the least.
21
Thankfully, Orange County doesn't see any snow, but as a mid-westerner, and someone who lived in suburban Boston for many years, here is what I remember: Even rear wheel drive cars have four brakes, so slowing down in slippery conditions is important for everyone. Knowing how to steer and control a car in the event there's a skid is critical. New drivers or new to snow drivers should practice maneuvers in empty parking lots. Learning how to regain control in a skid needs to be part of "muscle memory."
14
As a pilot, I wish everyone else could share my experience of learning to land on a snow packed runway at 60 mph. One learns to focus, not make any sudden changes and most of all to stay off the brakes. Living part time in the Finger Lakes I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had cars tailgate me or fly by at a high rate of speed, putting everyone in their path at risk.
When first learning to drive my Dad took me to a snowy parking lot and showed me exactly what to do, and more importantly, what not to do.
I avoid driving on the interstates in snowy conditions, not because I don’t know how to drive in snow, but rather to avoid the aggressive impatient drivers that are such a danger
Would love to see state police begin pulling over these idiots and start giving tickets for unsafe driving.
224
The last part confused me:
“When you do start losing control, you really need to look where you want to go rather than staring at whatever obstacle you might run into.” Usually, Mr. Hanson said, your hands will steer you in that direction.
I was taught that when you start losing control you should steer into the direction you are heading. In other words, don’t jerk the steering wheel the direction you want to go because you’ll never regain control. I would think if you look in the direction you want to go, you’d naturally steer in that direction and just keep spinning. Am I just confused? Which way is correct?
17
@Sarah looking where you want to go is not the same as jerking the wheel. Your eye-hand coordination takes care of steering the car in the direction you're looking. And bear in mind that you may want to be looking in the direction of the skid.
12
"Look at where you want to go," not at the wall you're headed towards, is sound and safe advice.
And it's smart to realize that 4-wheel drive doesn't overcome the mass of the vehicle, especially of a large SUV or truck.
13
I lived in Lake Tahoe and spent a lot of winter time there. My vehicles were a Datsun 280 Z and then a Mazda RX7. Over several years I never had a problem and chained up only once. And yep, I had winter tires. I wish high schools would require driver ed again. Not that it woulds teach people how to drive in the snow but it would be a start. I live in Oregon now and have owned two Subarus Outbacks and a 4X4 F 250 Ford pick up. Don't let anyone tell you that 4 wheel and all wheel drive don't help.
Basic rule, slow and gentle and knowing when to accelerate and when to coast.
14
Driving on the highway after a snowfall, I always leave at least 5-6 car lengths in front of me, try to look far ahead of me for any potential problems, and try to keep my speed steady.
But I can't tell you how many times some knucklehead will inevitably cut in front me within a car length or so. I let up on the gas, and slowly tap the breaks to slow down a bit.
The people with the SUV's and AWD's think they're in an Abrams Tank, and more often than not, they're the vehicles in the ditches from the on/off ramps
88
Four studded tires on a 4-wheel Suburu. You can drive on pure ice no problem.
7
@Harry
Think you mean All Wheel Drive Subaru....different.
And most important piece of equipment: your attitude!
17
Most drivers go far too fast in ice and snow----even those who have experience in winter driving. The first and most important thing is to slow down and leave far more room between vehicles.
Also, on the first snow / ice of each winter, I have found that it is extremely helpful to drive to an empty parking lot and see how much longer it takes to stop quickly, how much more room it takes to turn quickly, how much momentum continues to push a car in the original direction when one tries to turn quickly, etc. It is a very important way to re-train oneself to drive on ice and snow, since we tend to forget so easily.
60
One of the best descriptions I heard of how to drive in a Maine winter: imagine you have 4 bald tires, lousy brakes, no airbags, and wonky steering and then drive as cautiously as you think you should in those circumstances. Then, if you do have ABS, studded tires, VSC, all-wheel or 4 wheel drive, those are just extras--do not rely on them to keep you safe. The first piece of safety equipment to load into your vehicle? An attitude of safety!
We would rather see you late, than not at all...leave a good amount time, and don't rush, thanks.
162
Excellent advice.
We get very little snow during the winter, and what we get doesn't last long. As a result, people have no clue how to drive in it!
If the road has a segment that has not yet been driven on, undisturbed snow, I'll drive on that. It won't be very deep, and the interlocking pointed snow crystals will offer better traction than ice. And it means I'm nowhere near other drivers.
12
One tip I learned from a local person here in Vermont whose family has owned the local garage and towing company for a very long time...when going downhill, do it in neutral. I had always thought that doing it in low gear was good because (I had been told) you get engine braking, but he said that even in low gear you can get torques that will put you into the ditch. Neutral, and slow, and steady on the brakes is his advice.
I've been doing this ever since and I feel very much more in control when going down the 1 1/2 mile hill on the dirt road from our home to the main road.
6
Thank you for this affirmation! I put it in neutral, too! When I told my husband about this trick, he went nuts, telling me “this was stupid, dangerous for the car, etc., etc.” Can anyone else chime in? We have a steep hill for a driveway that leads onto a highway. I have an Audi AWD. Is putting it in neutral “dangerous for the car?!
5
@Dawn
It can be dangerous for drivers', as the practice is outlawed in many states.
I suggest you try putting the vehicle in a higher than normal gear, and then don't downshift while moving.
i.e. if you would usually go down a hill in second dry, try third on snow.
5
Per many automobile magazines vehicles that are equipped with ABS take longer to stop in snow compared to vehicles that do not have ABS . sMany individual who have vehicles with 4 wheel drive believe their vehicle will skid less, stop shorter and are less chance of getting into an accident
2
Hey. Everything I Thought I knew About Driving on Snow Was Right.
18
Whenever we get one of our very infrequent ice storms, I'll saddle a horse and go up to the highway the following day to count all the jacked-up 4WD monster trucks upside down in the ditches and pastures. Inclement weather is irresistible to the testosterone-crazed, and frozen precip brings 'em out of the woodwork like nothing else.
47
I drive through the mountains several times a year and during winter the vast majority of vehicles I see in the ditch, flipped or skidded off the road are 4WD or AWD. Many times, they are the same ones that have passed me in the previous hour or so. Like many other drivers on the road, I'm probably going faster than I should in snowy conditions and have been lucky, but the faith that some folks put in their 4WD or AWD vehicles is well beyond their actual capabilities.
Several years ago, one 4WD truck passed a whole line of us who were travelling around 40 mph - the driver blew past on hard packed snow honking and shaking his fist - when we saw him 30 minutes later, you could see where he left the highway and flew into the median - his truck in a snow crater having rolled a few times. Clearly overdriving his skills and the limits of his vehicle.
25
best snow car I ever had was a Saab V-4 with perelli tires... could not break it lose even if we tried... and we were 20...so we tried. worst thing I see in winter driving now -- it's a white out where I've been for the last two days and there are people driving around without their lights on...mostly stupid kids under the impression that lights are what you need to drive when actually they are what everybody else needs to see, so they know you are there.
20
@frankly 32
Headlights on 24/7/365, all weather, all locations.
It is about being seen. It is the law in many of the (safer) countries...
34
I drove in upstate NY and Minnesota winters for over twenty years, and used to shake my head when I'd hear people talking about getting 4WD so they wouldn't spin their wheels trying to get going. Getting going is not the problem. *Stopping* is the problem.
For me, staying out of the ditch was primarily a matter of two things: (1) switching to snow tires in winter; and (2) anticipating some degree of slide with every move (lane change, turn, stop, etc.).
261
One other thing that drivers neglect - especially in states where snow is less prevalent - is to clear snow from the roof of their vehicle before taking to the road. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen mounds of snow peel off the roof of cars and trucks ahead of me and come winging their way towards the vehicles behind. There are several possible dangerous outcomes; the drivers following instinctively brake on already hazardous roads possibly leading to wrecks; the snow crashes into the following drivers' windshields causing damage and/or a crash; or additional ice and snow are deposited on the roadway causing unnecessary hazards. It's another symptom of thoughtlessness.
396
@JamesO - Not just in states where snow is rare - I see it all the time here in NYC. Sometimes drivers only clean off half the windshield before taking to the road.
28
@JamesO Here in Virginia, it is illegal NOT to clean the snow off the roof of your vehicle before driving. This is why God created adjustable snow wipers with telescoping wands.
24
@MPW In NYS it is requires by law to remove snow from the roof
29
The very best winter tires have studs. You can't use them all year in Maine as the state mandates use only between november 1 and April 1.
BUT: just because you can stop well and turn well, doesn't mean the driver behind you can stop as fast or turn as well as you can.
Be sure to allow for the driver behind you having much less functional winter tires. Give other car time to stop and room to turn.
100
@memosyne Winter driving in various parts of Canada for decades on studded and non-studded winter tires has taught me that studs give good traction in colder areas where hard-packed snow and ice are common. In warmer areas where wet snow and slush are prevalent studs seldom help. On bare or wet pavement, studded tires may lose traction in situations where a non-studded tire will retain its grip. Let your most common winter driving conditions be your guide when deciding whether to buy studded tires.
39
@memosyne
Maine "permits" the use of studded snow tires, but doesn't "mandate" them. http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/29-A/title29-Asec1919.html
13
I'd like to add to the wisdom of this article by stressing that traditional "studded" winter tires are inferior to modern Winter/Ice tires such as Blizzaks or other studless brands. Many tests proved this, and they save all of us from the damage to roads that studded tires inflict. Please, avoid using studded tires.
145
@Tom Lyons
I'd like to see the evidence for this assertion, which I believe is in error. I'm a very experienced winter driver, having learned to drive in northern Vermont 60-plus years ago, and have driven with studded and non-studded winter tires. Studded tires are far superior for speed control and directional stabiity. No comparison.
23
@Blue Stater
I am not familiar with the "modern" studless tires that Tom Lyons mentions, but it's clear he's not talking about tires that you may have used years ago. I would like to learn more from Tom about evidence for his assertion, though. (I also live in Vermont).
8
@Tom Lyons
From Consumer reports:
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2012/10/putting-studded-studless-winter-tires-to-the-test/index.htm
In summary, the performance is about equal. Since studded tires are illegal in many states because of increase road damage, many people have no choice except to go for the studless tires like Blizzak.
32
For 18 years I had a sports car with full time AWD. I bought it in 1990. It had a viscous coupled differential, rather than any sort of electronic traction control. It came with top of the line rally tires. That car could go thru almost anything: mud up to the door sills, a foot or more of snow, but not glare ice. NOTHING works well on glare ice - not even studded tires. With AWD I've learned that when the car gets sort of sideways the smartest thing to do is keep your foot off the gas and the brakes, and loosen your grip on the wheel. The car will tend to straighten out on it's own. Never try to fight a skid. Haven't had two wheel drive since the 80's so I can't say that would work on those kinds of cars.
46
I’m quite surprised to read that winter tyres are not part of the DNA in US states with regular winter snowfalls and low temperatures. It’s pretty much mandatory in Switzerland. Spending a couple of hundred bucks a year compared to risking your and your passengers’ lives ... a no brainer for me.
148
@Christopher Jenkins I asked my mechanic if I needed winter tires and he said no, that all-year round tires were sufficient.
3
@alex
Switch mechanics!
34
@Christopher Jenkins It really depends on where in the US you live, how much snow you get, and how well the roads are maintained. Here in Upstate NY, the only thing keeping some people from having snow tires is the expense, which is a shame -- safety shouldn't be tied into what you can afford.
32
Having been a motorcycle rider and racer on both dirt and pavement was a great way to learn about balance and being smooth in your inputs for direction changes, braking and accelerating. For me the best learning experience was a solo drive from Copenhagen to Kiruna ,Sweden in a VW Rabbit in the winter of 1975-76. Roughly 2000 km of snow covered roads at speed. My lasting general impression is how very competent Swedish drivers are. Fast, smooth and predictable. I don't know what the accident stats are for Sweden but my guess is that they are far safer drivers than we are here in the US, and they do it in some pretty nasty weather. What ever they are doing, we should do the same.
65
Be not scared of winter, learn to live dangerously. An alternative is to be a cocoon either on an old-fashioned farm-house oven or on a modern couch under a blanket.
18
Cocooning is the option chosen by vast majority in areas of South where even predicted snowfalls cause widespread closures and cancellations.
14
This article left out what I consider to be the most important safety measure for driving on snow: drive in a lower gear! Even most automatic transmission vehicles have a lower gear to shift into. When you need to stop and are driving in a lower gear, the car will basically slow down on its own, without needing to hit the brakes as much, reducing the possibility of a skid. Of course, you can't drive at highway speeds in a lower gear, but if conditions are bad enough, one shouldn't be doing that anyway.
16
Driving in a lower gear can cause a skid if you're going downhill. Having control over what gear you're in is important so you can make adjustments.
Manual transmissions (horrors!) give you this adjustability on the fly. Automatics are calibrated for gas economy and will upshift for you at exactly the wrong times, or suddenly be in too low a gear if you select a lower gear.
Personally, I have 4wd and awd vehicles with studded snow tires and manual transmissions, because I have the driveway from hell. Getting off the hill is harder than getting back up.
Winter tires should be mandatory where there is real snow.
8
Going slow is the key, even if it annnoys those in the big SUVs who believe the commercials where they zoom around in snow. May a time they passed me on the turnpike going to fast then crunched a guardrail or rolled over in a ditch.
7
No sudden moves: no quick acceleration/deceleration.
If the driver behind you isn't putting extra distance between the two of you, slow down and add even more distance between you and the car ahead of *you* --in an emergency, you'll be slowing down for two.
17
Speed? Are you kidding? Nobody ever slows down, even in the worst inclement weather conditions here in MA. Matter of fact it seems as if people drive even faster.
Especially the pick up trucks and large SUVs.
They think they're impervious to snow/ice/water on the roads.
God forbid anyone slows down some in complete white out or rain deluge conditions!
16
Thank you so much for this absolutely honest and realistic article. It's the best I've read anywhere in years on a subject near and dear to my heart. I cross one of the worst mountain passes on the west coast, given weather patterns, traffic density and speed, road alignment, altitude, etc. etc. on a weekly basis. I I used to meet a car or two over the span of a couple of hours in say, 90 miles. Now it's hundreds in both directions traveling twenty mph faster and it's frightening--all about "the other driver". There are fatalities every week in the winter, most following too close and too fast. Eventually, after several hundred trips, you'll hit a road surface going down hill in the shade, on a curve and have no/none/nada/zero traction for several hundred yards. All the new winter driving options that insulate drivers have seemed to make it worse- save for the right tires and a safe speed. That's where this article nails it--driving smoothly with the right tires and following safe are so important--90%. Please drive safely, thoughtfully, and wish me luck.
45
@Mrs.ArchStanton
And NY Times-- please repeat a version of this article each year...but in early December, for us to prepare!
Thanks.
26
In the middle of a snowstorm or blizzard, stay off the road. Skip school or work or shopping. Let the snowplows do their job before heading out. If you’re driving long distance on a highway, stop and have a long lunch. So many people feel they HAVE to get somewhere and end it up spending the night in a ditch.
15
Unfortunately that only works when your employer allows you to stay home. Many workers particularly in retail are required to go in regardless of the weather conditions.
9
@Victoria
Very few people HAVE to get to work: hospital staff, law enforcement, plow drivers, utility crews, tow drivers. Thank them for their efforts.
Everyone else--take a snow day, we give the kids off school to protect them--don't we count too?
And retail managers with stores empty of customers have empty heads. Find a better work situation.
9
I'm glad to hear the author echo my feelings about snow tires. In the Northeast in the 1970s, before the days of "all-season" tires, everybody switched to snow tires in winter, even if they had to pay to have them mounted each time. Now it is very difficult to even find winter tires. Car dealers and even tire dealers actively discourage them, claiming that their all-season perform as good or better in snow than snow tires.
9
@Larry
Find a good independent mechanic, pay a bit more for their guidance and expertise. Dealers and tire chains are simply being lazy.
3
The key things are really to go slower and don't make sudden movements--with the steering wheel, gas, or brake pedal.
There could be a layer of ice on the road under that cover of snow.
18
@Joe
Glad you included the gas pedal.
ANYTHING that causes the wheels to drastically change their rotational speed in relation to the car's speed can start a skid, including the engine braking that happens if one jerks their foot of the gas.
7
The main thing I see in Vermont often in snowy and wintery conditions is people from out of state in fancy SUVs exceeding speed limits and passing at high speeds. Above all, people need to slow down in storms, and allow a lot of extra time. Leave plenty of room between vehicles. And if the temp is approx 30 to 34 F, be ready for black ice.
72
@Lauren Geiger Good points .Many individuals do not know what black ice is
13
Folks who are not from a cold weather environment never bother to have some things in the trunks of their cars that could save their lives. My father taught me about kitty litter -- the old-fashioned clay kind which is absorbent and offers traction when you get stuck. I added a further refinement to the litter, an empty cardboard box which can be torn up and slid under tires that are stuck in snow for traction. Once, I assisted a Porsche driver using a banana box. A heavy blanket is also a necessity, just in case you wipe out in a snow bank and have to wait for help in a remote setting. And the best technique for those who do get stuck in snow and have the space is "rocking" the car back and forth from Drive to Reverse a few times and letting the car's weight pull you free. Only experienced snow drivers should attempt this maneuver. And here's a word to those who are from Florida who try to drive in a blinding snowstorm in Virginia and then give up and leave their cars on a busy highway, such as Interstate 95: don't.
32
@The Real Virginian
Thanks for the suggestions. I would add a jumpstart battery to your list --one with a cigarette lighter port for your phone's car charger and/or a USB port.
I always think back to the young couple who got stuck in a snowbank with a phone that died before they could be found.
9
@The Real Virginian From experience I can confirm that the rocking trick also works in sand. :)
11
Negotiate a summer/winter tire set on separate rims with a new car if you live up north. Swapping them out takes 10 minutes and $25.
Safer to drive 50K miles with a summer/winter set than 2 sets of all seasons, for not that much more.
16
Good article. For those of us who live Up North, snow tires go on in late October. Drive slower and pay attention to conditions. One of our vehicles is a real 4 wheel drive and during emergencies for our township during blizzards, I have been out with chains on all 4 wheels and 4wd low. Any deeper and I get out the snowmobile. Just like many of my age (60's and 70's), we learned driving on slippery surfaces from our fathers out on frozen lakes. Nothing like ice driving to get your skills tested. The one I chuckle at is my wife's new Subaru with all the bells and whistles for lane assist. It is completely useless on a snow covered road. Taking in on the lake is another treat. Their system for AWD is just barely usable on ice.
18
Some in Idaho forget their winter driving skills over the summer, but the first snow fall brings the memory right back.
3
@vandalfan
"...the first snow fall brings the memory right back...."
or the ER visit or the tow bill does the trick!
5
When I lived in Dallas where they get ice storms more than snow it was a staple local tv device to position a reporter and camera by a highway overpass. Without fail a pick up truck would be shown sliding sideways. Anyone that has ever driven a empty pick up realizes that the weight distribution is absolutely horrible. Putting extra big tires on one doesn't help either, but the biggest disadvantage is being born in Texas and being taught the ways of the world by a Texan.
Imagine a place where people think pick up trucks are cool. Growing up in NY I always assumed they were only bought by businesses that needed them for their work.
43
@Paulie
Pickups are god's gift to the oil companies. I love filling up my Prius next to a pickup, and after my $11 worth, he has another $50-60 to go...!
7
" 'When you do start losing control, you really need to look where you want to go rather than staring at whatever obstacle you might run into.' Usually, Mr. Hanson said, your hands will steer you in that direction."
I thought one was supposed to turn into the skid -- that is, the opposite of the direction you want the car to take.
2
I was glad to see the article does not advise turning into the skid. I always thought this advice was more confusing than useful. Which way is into the skid? The answer to the question is in the direction you want to head, so why not just say that as this article does?
9
The feeling of having zero control over your car is eye-opening. I have driven on snow for over 55 years and thought I was so smart. Two winters ago, I bought a nice SUV withe AWD, installed studless snow tires. On my first trip, I was headed down a gradual descent, going only 35 in 55 mph zone, because I knew it was near freezing and all of a sudden I am skating into the oncoming lane. Did all the right things to control the car, but still hit an oncoming car at about 10 mph. The trooper who arrived said there was nothing I could have done differently, Black ice. They sent a sand truck out, which they do after the first crash of the day (me). As I looked up the grade from where I was crashed, every single car was crashed into the ditch or just stopped waiting for help. Yes, chains or studs would have probably prevented my accident, but my trip included several hundred miles in warmer climes.
12
As I always tell my kids, on ice, the car has four wheel drive, not four wheel stopping.
62
I recently put snow tires on my car for trips to the mountains. If you invest in rims you can do it yourself or quickly at a local garage for $20. One small point that wasn't mentioned in the article is cruse control. I was on 80 west last week in high winds and intermittent snow. The road was clear for a while so I put on the CC. We came around a corner and hit a small patch of ice and the (RWD) car began to fishtail. One second of terror later I taped the brake and all was fine. Only later did I see the sign on the road warning to not use CC in snowy conditions....something will not forget....
31
having lived in Vermont for 46 years i wouldn't drive in winter without my cherished hakkapelitas. thinking all season tires are really good for all seasons is an oxymoron. i emphasize the last 5 letters.
20
In the days when rear wheel drive was prevalent, a bag or two of sand in the trunk or truck bed was a winter driving aid.
5
@George Warren Steel
This is still done, 4 bags of water softener salt live next to my car all winter for a quick addition of rear wheel drive traction.
4
This is factually incorrect:
"Anti-lock brakes are designed to automatically pump the brakes and help the driver maintain control when trying to stop on a slippery surface."
Anti-lock works by releasing the brake pressure to allow the wheel to spin.
The technology was pioneered by Boeing to assist pilots with maintaining control of jets while landing.
A fully locked wheel doesn't do the driver any good because at that point it doesn't matter which way you're skidding.
However, allowing the wheel to rotate -- just a little bit -- provides a smaller "path of least resistance", allowing the vehicle to stop shorter and help keep the vehicle moving in the direction the front wheels are pointing.
Whether ABS helps on a slippery surfaces is a statement that requires context.
So long as the wheel is turning, then the tire tread is able to release anything building up inside of it (snow, ice, burnt tread, etc), ensuring that there is "clean" tread touching the ground.
However, there has been a lot of debate about whether or not ABS actually helps a vehicle stop faster on snowy or icy surfaces.
Reason being, with the brakes fully applied without ABS, the tire behaves a bit as a shovel by "digging in" and collecting road crud in front of it as it moves forward.
That build-up of road crud helps slow the vehicle, whereas with ABS the tire would simply roll over the road-crud.
I suspect this is why more vehicles are coming equipped with a dial to choose the road condition.
6
Wrong. ABS or anti-skid on aircraft sense a wheel not rotating over a certain speed, it is disabled under taxi speeds. If one of the anti-skid sensors are inoperative, which is allowed under the Minimum Equipment List, dispatch must approve the deviation due to the fact that landing distances will be longer.
A locked wheel provides effectively no braking on a wet runway, the tire hydroplanes. Also on aircraft the left and right braking systems are controlled separately providing another means of directional control.
3
@Paulie
If a wheel is not rotating over a certain speed, that's because there is too much brake pressure.
The only way to allow it to rotate faster is to release the brake pressure.
I'm not sure what your point was or what you're saying is "wrong"???
Also, whether a wheel is rotating or not makes no difference whether it hydroplanes.
2
People who buy $65k, basically fashion accessories, should know that four wheel drive helps you go, but doesn't help you stop. Another important point is that treacherous weather should not be used as a misguided attempt to validate your expenditure, particularly not at the cost of other peoples lives and safety.
20
All-wheel drive helps around 1% of the time. Winter tires help around 100% of the time.
60
Not mentioned is the fact that skidding around in slush and snow and drifting around corners is FUN. Just do it on empty country roads or in parking lots so that when the inevitable crash occurs, the only thing harmed is your pride. (and your wallet)
10
To dispel the folklore that 4WD doesn't help ... despite what people are saying, it actually does help with stopping and maintaining control because of the direct connection between the wheels and the engine.
People who say 4WD doesn't help are only thinking of what happens if the vehicle is sliding on a sheet of ice, but that is rarely the case. Rather, there are usually spotty patches of clear road, snow, dirt, asphalt, gravel, and ice. Thus, with 4WD, there is an increased probability of getting a wheel with power planted on a surface other than ice.
Likewise, the car's computer can quickly sense and adjust the application between braking and power to help the vehicle stay in line, assist the driver with regaining control, and help prevent the vehicle from spinning in circles.
The direct connection between the wheels and the engine's crankshaft provides the wheel with a slower and more controlled rate of turn compared to a fully pressed brake pedal, while also preventing a free-spin situation that occurs with no direct connection between the wheel and engine.
Even if the terrain situation is still nothing but ice, the use of 4WD can help the driver to steer the vehicle into a safer direction by applying power with the vehicle pointing in the direction the driver wants to go, which can mean the difference between driving into a ditch versus a head-on collision.
If possible, always go 4WD... and preferably with fully locking differentials.
5
Good article. I've lived in snow country most of my adult life - Wisconsin - though I grew up in Missouri. One nighttime commute in Missouri taught me that looks can be deceiving when I spun out on black ice on I70.
More to the point I recall a long ago episode of Car Talk where Tom Magliozzi was super impressed by a NYC taxi driver who was driving OK in a snow storm despite regular tires and everyone else slip-sliding around. His secret, according to the taxi driver, was to drive as if there was a raw egg between the foot and the pedals. Slow and smooth indeed is the ticket.
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@Tom Rowe During an ice-storm that hit Mississippi back in ... I think 1994/1995 ... all of the roads were covered in black ice. I'd never seen it before, and fair to say most of us in that region didn't even know it was a thing.
After the power lines went down, we decided to flee the state. We finally found our way towards I-55 and as we took the on-ramp to the interstate, our car lost control, starting spinning in circles, and flew straight off the road and into a ditch.
I'll never forget turning to check on my dog and seeing the ridiculous petrified look on his face as he was trying to comprehend what in the world was going on.
Some guy in a pickup came and pulled us out. As we inspected the car, we noticed that the front wheel-wells had completely filled with frozen slush so that the front wheels couldn't turn. They were effectively just skis. After kicking that loose, we were back on the road.
At one point, going about two mph over a small bridge, the car started spinning around and stopped pointing the other direction towards traffic. I got out of the car, observed the situation, and decided to try and push it back. So I braced my back feet against the concrete barrier and pushed the car 180 degrees around... then kept driving towards Memphis.
It took about 8 hours to get what would normally be a three hour drive to Memphis. Funny that immediately when we crossed the state line, the roads were totally clear.
13
@AG Sounds funny to me too, because I was stuck overnight with a few hundred other cars a few years ago on I40 driving out of Memphis because the guy with the snowplow didn't really know how to clear the road, and tractor-trailers were jacknifed all over the re-frozen slush up ahead of us, to quote the National Guard. Speaking from the north of NY State everyone should learn how to plough and drive on ice.
7
@Tom Rowe
Love Love Loved "Car Talk" with the Magliozzi brothers!!!
26
Guess I've been lucky as I learned to drive in Northern NH and then spent the next 50+ years driving in Boston and Portland, Maine. I've never had snow tires, just all purpose ones, and have never had a problem.
3
@Betsy Beecher betsey you have been waaaay lucky.
8
We bought cars in the 50's at 16 with new dr. lisence for $ 100 from a neighbor etc. We took them home and learned how to fix them. We did drive too fast at times racing a friend etc. but we learned how cars handle and that includes steering in a skid and stopping in snow as discussed here.
Thats all gone today, no more $ 100 cars you can register, no more learning how to install brakes, change a clutch in the yard etc. All those repairs are done now by a "shop professional" at a business location.
No more showing off your new loud dual mufflers at HS , no more need to learn to pump the brakes in a snow skid because the computer does it for you.
The student parking lots now are all full of the same new cars many bought by parents. Working on them is left to the 'pros'.
7
@Steve Crouse
I agree w you. I dranked beer and worked on our cars w my friends in my teens and 20's. No one does that anymore; cars are too complicated. But, I know how one works, and I know how to check the oil, which can't be done with an app.
10
I have always worked on my own cars, and yes ones that were recently new unless the warranty required to have a dealer do it. People that say new cars are " too complicated" are just too lazy to educate themselves. If anything, new cars are easier to work on if you have the diagnostic equipment.
Another annoying thing people do is compare $100 from the 50s to what $100 buys today. You ever hear of inflation? My brother bought a brand new Datsun 510 in 1972 for $2300. My parents bought their first house on Long Island for $12,000 in 1961.
Ah yes, the good old days when you could buy a club from Grock for only two rocks.
3
@Steve Crouse How about TWENTY dollar cars (My '49 Chevy) that you weren't afraid to drive even on logging trails. I do not envy kids these days their over-powered, over-computerized tin cans.
6
If you don't know how to drive in the snow, 4wd will not compensate for that, might even make things worse. So, if you don't know how to drive in the snow, either learn how or stay off the road.
53
Growing up learning in Minnesota winters my Dad once remarked, as a Jeep flew by on a snowy road “Everyone has 4 wheel braking”
7
Since this article is trying to bring us up to speed (no pun intended) on winter driving, here’s better information about the “alpine” symbol. I am not an expert at all, but I just selected some winter tires with which I am very pleased, and have done a lot of research on this topic recently.
First, while the article suggested the alpine symbol promises top winter performance, the ASTM-F1805 test, which a tire must pass to earn the symbol, simply assesses a tire’s snow/ice driving grip in a straight line.
Also, it’s been almost 20 years since the test was implemented, and both tire materials and tread design have evolved dramatically in that time. Some all weather (vs all season) tires are better in snow than some budget winter tires which sport the alpine symbol.
Third, the alpine symbol says that the test a tire did 10% better over a standard tire in the ASTM-F1805 test. That’s not something I’d stake my children on all by itself.
If you live where it snows, I have two suggestions: 1. it is absolutely worth the small inconvenience of switching tires/wheels during the winter; in Europe, for example, it’s required, and 2. research each individual tire you’re considering. Don’t just rely on the alpine symbol to be a promise of superior winter weather performance.
24
Slow and smooth. It's not difficult. People are just not that thoughtful when it comes to adjusting their driving styles to different conditions whether it be snow, heavy rain, or even nighttime.
110
@JamesO I still remember driving from New York to Stony Brook in 1970, with my then boyfriend at the wheel of his 1967 DeVille convertible. That car weighed over 5,000 pounds and did NOT have snow tires, but that night ALL of the drivers on the Long Island Expressway seemed to act rationally, keep in line, and drive smoothly. We actually made it back in record time!
7
Much of the province of British Columbia is a case study in driving at excessive speeds on snowy roads. And many of these same offenders are prone to following much too close. Oftentimes, it's the more rugged vehicles which later land in the ditch.
20
Stop accepting drivers license transfers from other countries without a driving test, and require geriatrics to retake the driving test every 2 years after age 60.
Those 2 measures alone would probably reduce road fatalities by a third or more.
8
@asdfj
60 is a bit low, I'd say. 65, probably, & 70 definitely, but 60 isn't the "dangerous elderly driver thing" it used to be. And yes, I'm on the high side of 65, & I still think it's basically a good idea.
5
@asdfj Which states allow this and from which countries? I'm an immigrant and couldn't make a direct switch in NY in 2006 and in NC a decade later had to resit my driving test, despite decades of driving abroad.
3
@asdfj
Hey, look where you're aiming.
If you take a look at the crash statistics by age of driver, you will see that drivers under the age of 30 have higher crash rates than older drivers. In fact, drivers between 60-69 have the lowest crash rates of all. The rates do rise, however, after 80.
35
When I lived in high snow areas (New England and Chicago), when the first reasonably big snowfall came I would head to an empty parking lot and practice. Practice, practice, practice. And I drove only rear wheel drive cars because you had more control in snow conditions (contrary to popular belief).
12
@Roy
Yes, that is exactly the way to do it, to have it be second nature so you can quickly react to the feel of the road.
6
@Roy Excellent tip. I do this whenever I replace a vehicle so that I can get a feel for that vehicles behavior and when it’s like to ‘let go’. In fact, I learned with our 2018 Audi A5 Sportback that, as a ‘sports sedan’, traction control will not kick in automaticity unless you counter steer into a slide. Quite different from the Honda CR-V which will aggressively get you straightened out at the slightest slip whether you want to or not. I’m ok with both vehicles behavior so long as I’m aware of their nature.
4
@Roy not only a learning focus....it is great fun to spin around a parking lot.
3
I agree that many people are "lucky", and much of knowing how to drive in snow comes from "unlucky" moments (hopefully somewhat controlled) where a person learns how a vehicle reacts in slippery conditions, and leans not to panic, or do anything quickly.
I still have the Jeep the I bought in 1987 (with 320k miles), in an area notorious for drivers not knowing how to handle the slightest snowfall. I NEVER put on studs, but I do have decent treads (yes, they allow studded tires here, and studs on a four wheel drive tells me the driver has no idea how to drive in snow).
I don't have ABS, but I am conditioned to feather my brakes and ease the accelerator appropriately. These things can be learned, but not when there is a week of snow per year.
This is also what concerns me about self driving cars. When the automatic systems fail, the "driver" won't have a clue on what to do.
My analogy is if you're out mountaineering, or backcountry traveling in avalanche country, the best safety device is what's between your ears. Know how to travel, know the conditions, know the safe routes, and don't be stupid.
51
@j s
I couldn't agree more about your comment on self driving cars. They may be ok in places like Tucson and Los Angeles, but for at least 3 months of the year they will be dangerous, if not inoperative in places where the roads are often covered in snow
12
The better the grip, the faster you’ll go when you eventually overestimate it.
Before you buy the biggest all-wheel-drive truck with the largest winter tires, and learn to drift your turns like Colin McRae, just be aware of the limits of your car, drive slow, and learn to not care about people wanting you to drive faster.
24
Practice is what imprints the correct reactions.
4
I have always found that having a manual transmission, which is rare these days, helps driving the most in snow and ice. Throw in some studded snow tires for extra traction. Seems to have worked well here in New England over the past 50 years.
67
Agreed...from upstate NY, loving my 5 speed manual:)
11
@Jim The benefit of the manual transmission is the "lock" between the engine crankshaft and the wheels, versus the "slippy" clutch of an automatic.
The dual-clutch automatic transmissions provide the same lock as a manual, but the typical American driver doesn't like the firm shift and -- not knowing any better -- assumes something is wrong with the transmission.
So dual clutch transmissions are falling out of favor despite being mechanically better in every measurement.
3
@Jim
Agreed. I was surprised that the article makes no mention of manual transmissions. I have never owned an automatic-transmission car (and I'm 80). Manual transmissions give drivers much better control over the whole driving experience, summer and winter. The article's advice about doing nothing suddenly in winter is excellent -- in bad winter conditions I try as far as possible to control my car's speed entirely with the transmission and the accelerator, without touching the brakes, and to anticipate moves I might have to make as far ahead as I can see. I don't use cruise control either -- ever.
But the times are against us: a month after I bought a new Subaru Forester last fall, I learned that my model year, 2018, is the last Forester with a manual transmission. Big mistake, but consistent with the times.
20
I learned from this and I’ve been driving for over 60 years. There’s also a subtle message here that needs to be heeded regarding sensors—they’re not a substitute for experience and good driving habits. The engineers also need to heed this message.
13
One more preparation: training and practice.
In the US, our mandated driver training and testing is less than minimal. But we can still seek out private driving schools and other formal training opportunities. At the very least, drivers needing some experience with the sensations of losing traction, and then reacting, can find the proverbial snow-covered empty parking lot and see what happens when they accelerate, brake, or turn too abruptly.
21
I suppose what keeps people from buying snow tires is the extra $600 needed. This is a fallacy: by using a set of summer tires and winter tires half as much by changing them out every 6 months, they last twice as long. Hence, no incremental cost other than mounting and balancing twice a year. And for the $100 that might cost, the difference in performance, as stated in the article, is staggering. There is just no comparison between winter tires and all season tires in snow or slippery roads. Likewise, summer tires outperform all season tires in good weather.
I have dedicated snow tires on my Land Rover. Once I tell the computer it's driving on snow, it is simply unbeatable until the snow gets higher than 2 feet. Then I lock it in low range and keep going.
6
@H
Having used snow tires for the past 20+ years I highly recommend getting dedicated rims for them. You save the mounting and balancing costs twice a year and you can buy them in a smaller diameter which saves your rims from winter potholes. Most tire shops will swap the wheels for free.
26
@Glen
Dedicated rims are the way to go...mine are steel. Haven’t come across a tire shop that will put the car on a lift and swap the wheels for free.
4
@Glen
Excellent point - particularly if you put your snows on steel rims and leave your summer tires on those nice alloy rims that otherwise would get bashed up going through the winter potholes.
4
Gradual in every move. Start; Stop; Turn. Gradual.
49
All good advice
I judge my winter driving by having zero instances of the ABS coming on -- in other words being sure to increase stopping distance.
He's right abort snow tires -- I have experiment the difference with one car when I bought them in December -- it was fabulous. Like being a magnet on steel in comparison to what I had before.
On highways, be careful of changing lanes, especially when wet snow has piled up between the lanes. Even I, Mr. Speedy, try to avoid any changes when that's the case.
Safe driving!
21
Check winter tire ratings, some are excellent, some not so good. Consumer Reports does great testing and articles.
24