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2005-12-09 8:23 AM

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Extreme Veteran
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500100
Ohio
Subject: Driving in the Snow

Some folks just can't do it! It took me 4 hours to get home last night!!!! What should be a 50 minute drive. What possesses people to a) drive like a maniac in a blinding snow storm (and cause accidents?) or b) talk on the cell phone while driving in a blinding snow storm (yes, I saw people doing this yesterday) or c) drive so crazy that you get stuck on hill, or slide or whatever (ex. driving in the middle of the lanes so that you can get around the traffic, and end up getting stuck on the hill and causing worse problems)...

I know some things are unavoidable, but some of it is common sense as well.

Okay, I'm finished ranting



Edited by Sassafras 2005-12-09 8:24 AM


2005-12-09 8:53 AM
in reply to: #302432

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Expert
1135
100010025
Delano, MN
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
I'm with you on that rant and I drive a terrible snow car - Mustang. Last night I had a 30 minute delay due to a traffic light being out. My normal drive home is 45 minutes and I spent 1 1/4 hours geting home - just to take it out my wieght set!
2005-12-09 9:02 AM
in reply to: #302432

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The Original
7834
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Raleigh/Durham
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
I don't miss driving in the snow- at all.  What was scary was having to worry about how other people drove!  I hated driving in the snow- so glad i don't have to do that anymore.
2005-12-09 9:16 AM
in reply to: #302432

Champion
8903
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Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
I once saw our previous secretary driving into our snow covered parking lot at an enormous rate of speed, and barely stopping in time, narrowly avoiding someone elses car . I mentioned to her one day, "Missy, you might want to slow down a bit when the roads are slippery." Her answer was, "Oh, I'm OK, I have 4-wheel drive!" Ummm...it doesn't help you stop any sooner dear!



Edited by max 2005-12-09 9:18 AM
2005-12-09 9:23 AM
in reply to: #302432

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Elite
2421
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Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
I'm with ya Sass... I had some fun in that last night to. Not anything on the order of 4 hours, but 45 minutes was plenty (2-3 of that was spent trying to get up my driveway).

At least they had everything cleaned up pretty well this morning.

Max, that was always one of my favorite lines to hear when in Minot. All 4 wheel drive ever did was help me get out of the ditch after I slid off the road. That and I liked to remind people that they may have 4 wheel drive, but they only have 2 wheel brakes.

bts
2005-12-09 9:31 AM
in reply to: #302432

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Expert
760
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Mt. Morris, IL
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow

What is normaly a 15min trip was 45 last night for me.  I carpool with a coworker who has a rear wheel drive truck that even with the weight in the back slid all over.  The part I couldn't believe was the number of people who went flying by us.  We did later see one of them in the ditch Wink, sometimes you get what you deserve. 



2005-12-09 10:15 AM
in reply to: #302494

Elite
3650
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Laurium, MI
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
my truck is the worst EVER in snow. First off it's a 2wd truck with a locking rear end, so no weight on the rear wheels and they both spin. Plus it has a full racing suspension on it, so it's super stiff, AND I still have summer performance tires on it, which don't do so hot in the snow.

If the road is slick, I'm driving sideways and drifting the corners. The advantage is I can do donuts like a mad man.


The funny thing is that after being in the snow for about 4 days, I get a feel for how it reacts again, and can drive just as well (sometimes better) then half the guys with 4wd.
2005-12-09 10:40 AM
in reply to: #302432

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Pro
4481
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Reston
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
at least you all live in places that always get snow, where at least the majority of people know how to drive in it...  here in northern VA, where it doesn't snow a whole lot, people have absolutely no idea.  concepts like "drive slower" and "don't follow so closely" and "easy on the breaks" just don't seem to exist.  I like the 4 wheel drive comment, people think its like they are driving a tank on dry roads. 
2005-12-09 10:51 AM
in reply to: #302432

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Extreme Veteran
604
500100
Ohio
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow

That 4-wheel drive comment is so true...a guy said that to me this morning. "Glad I had 4-wheel drive, it helped me get home faster", whatever

I have to give props to my little mazda protege. It did alright in the snow.

2005-12-09 11:30 AM
in reply to: #302432

Subject: ...
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2005-12-09 11:55 AM
in reply to: #302596

Pro
4481
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Reston
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
lara your front wheel drive will do better in the snow than something with rear wheel, so you already have that working in your favor. i don't know about putting anything in the trunk to add weight... i can't say for sure that it wouldn't help. i've had little front wheel drive cars most of my life, and never had a problem. then again, i had to learn how to drive in the snow, when i was 16, before i really had much of a chance to not drive in the snow. steep learning curve. just go slow, take your time, and always be easy on the brakes. you'll be fine.

Edited by 3558 2005-12-09 11:57 AM


2005-12-09 12:19 PM
in reply to: #302432

Elite
2421
2000100100100100
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
Yeah, locking your brakes in that situation sux. BTW, weight in the trunk is mostly for rear wheel drive vehicles.

Always steer into the skid... unless you're skidding towards a tanker truck.

bts
2005-12-09 12:23 PM
in reply to: #302634

Pro
4481
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Reston
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow

unless you're skidding towards a tanker truck. bts

in that case, just open your door and bail out.

2005-12-09 12:24 PM
in reply to: #302551

Extreme Veteran
339
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Atlanta, GA
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
3558 - 2005-12-09 11:40 AMat least you all live in places that always get snow, where at least the majority of people know how to drive in it... here in northern VA, where it doesn't snow a whole lot, people have absolutely no idea. concepts like "drive slower" and "don't follow so closely" and "easy on the breaks" just don't seem to exist. I like the 4 wheel drive comment, people think its like they are driving a tank on dry roads.


Same here in Atlanta!
2005-12-09 12:38 PM
in reply to: #302596

Champion
11641
50005000100050010025
Fairport, NY
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
Lara - 2005-12-09 12:30 PM

sorry for the Hijack 

ok... here's your chance to educate (and make fun of) me..  i've been a licensed driver for 13 years..  i moved to the PacNW a year ago..  and i still have NEVER driven in the snow (thank god for Boyfriends on Ski Trips)..  i know the day will come (SOON)..  i have a little front wheel drive car (Honda Accord)..  Hubby sugguested I throw100 lbs of kitty litter in the trunk to add some weight to the back tires..  but feel free to pass along your tips and advice since I'll be facing this soon

 thanks!

Lara

The other posts are right about this. You want weight over the tires that actually move the vehicle. In front wheel drive cars the engine and transaxle take care of this. In rear wheel drive vehicles use the kitty litter/sand/red bike frames.

The red bike frames will add weight and help keep your speed down. 

2005-12-09 12:50 PM
in reply to: #302654

Philadelphia, south of New York and north of DC
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
• 4-wheel drive cars and trucks are great for getting moving, but do not help with stopping, don't drive faster than your ability to stop before hitting something

• all cars have low gears, including those with automatic transmissions. Use them. Low gears are the single best thing for driving in the snow.

• don't drive faster than your ability to stop before hitting something

• if you're stuck in a snowbank, don't spin your wheels. Rock back and forth instead. Put the car in reverse and move it until just before your wheels spin, step on the brake, shift to low, move forward until just before your wheels spin, repeat until you get enough momentum to move through the snow bank

• don't drive faster than your ability to stop before hitting something

• if you need to make a 90 degree turn really quickly in a manual transmission car, turn the steering wheel in the direction of your turn while at the same time locking your parking breaks. You should be able to turn the car 90 degrees in about three feet. Only try this if there is a lot of snow on the road and no other cars.

Oh yea, don't drive faster than your ability to stop before hitting something.

Edited by dontracy 2005-12-09 12:51 PM


2005-12-09 1:15 PM
in reply to: #302596

Champion
7542
5000200050025
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
Lara - 2005-12-09 11:30 AM

sorry for the Hijack 

ok... here's your chance to educate (and make fun of) me..  i've been a licensed driver for 13 years..  i moved to the PacNW a year ago..  and i still have NEVER driven in the snow (thank god for Boyfriends on Ski Trips)..  i know the day will come (SOON)..  i have a little front wheel drive car (Honda Accord)..  Hubby sugguested I throw100 lbs of kitty litter in the trunk to add some weight to the back tires..  but feel free to pass along your tips and advice since I'll be facing this soon

 thanks!

Lara



Sure, first good snowfall, head to the nearest open parking lot and experiment. Accelerate, brake, steer, where you have plenty of room to not hit anything. This was my son's first experience driving a car, and yes, he did hit the snowbank, and he did get the car stuck. He realized that 1) driving is harder than it looks, 2) things happen very fast, 3) it ain't like Nintendo, and 4) make sure you have emergency gear (see below).

Does your Accord have ABS or traction control?

Weight in the trunk will have a marginal benefit by increasing traction in the rear, but since these aren't the drive wheels, it won't work like hubby expects. At the least, you can use the kitty litter to sprinkle around/under the tires after you slide off the road (Sand works much better!).

The problem with small front-wheel-drive cars, especially those with wide tires, is they ride up onto the pile of snow and you have to dig the snow out from under the car, not just around the tires. (Carry a shovel?).

Carry a blanket or old sleeping bag to keep warm if you do get stuck. ALWAYS have a coat, hat, and gloves. You can also throw a couple of old floormats, doormats, or throw rugs (like the kindgergarten rag-mats) in the trunk. You can use them to insulate you from the ground if you need to change a tire, for traction under the tire, etc.

2005-12-09 1:15 PM
in reply to: #302641

Elite
2421
2000100100100100
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
3558 - 2005-12-09 11:23 AM

unless you're skidding towards a tanker truck. bts

in that case, just open your door and bail out.



Unless you're Chuck Norris... then you just roundhouse kick the truck out of the way.

bts
2005-12-09 1:26 PM
in reply to: #302432

Master
4101
20002000100
Denver
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
Also, if you are Chuck Norris you can always just roundhouse kick the car out of any snowbanks, although I think most snowbanks would see Chuck Norris coming, get scared and run away.

Don Tracy has good advice. The biggest thing is just to go slow and leave lots of room between the car in front of you because it will take longer to stop. when braking its generally better to pump the brakes (small, short braking) than to lean on the pedal. This helps keep the car weight a little more evenly distributed over all 4 wheels.
2005-12-09 1:34 PM
in reply to: #302432

Champion
11641
50005000100050010025
Fairport, NY
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow

Here's another tip related to 90 ° turns.

In snowy conditions at intersections, assume that anyone making a 90 ° turn is travelling too fast to make the turn.  Leave room for them to overshoot it.

2005-12-09 1:37 PM
in reply to: #302432

Master
2136
200010025
A Prairie Home
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
Personally, I don't think 4WD or ABS can completely your car from spin-outs. And it's really sad that people immediately think that they are driving a tank if their cars are equiped with these features.

I know I am not a good at driving in snow, so I tend to go slow if I couldn't see well or if there are stuff on the ground. While most people are very patient and understanding, there are always morons out there honking me for not going fast enough. I am very tempted to jump out, and ask them if it is their intent to have my car spin out and kill everybody.

Grr Grrr.


2005-12-09 2:04 PM
in reply to: #302432

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.
2005-12-09 3:01 PM
in reply to: #302731

Elite
3650
200010005001002525
Laurium, MI
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
okay....

weight in the back of a FWD car is a bad idea. It gives teh rear more momentum once it starts sliding, so if you manage to start spinning, it's harder to stop.

Like was suggested, take your car out into a deserted parking lot and push it until traction brakes. Keep doing this until you get a feel for when you will start to slide and the motion of the car one it starts to slide. Practice enough and you will build reactions to counter steer and get you back in the right direction instead of in the snow bank.

Some hints to try in the deserted parking lot:

RWD car/truck: Mash gas and get the rear sliding out to one side. Turn into the skid so that the front wheels always point the same direction....let the car pivot around the wheels. The rear end will stabelize and come back under control. Don't panic and let off the gas quickly or slam the brake. Don't disengague the clutch. The car can be moving sideways as long as the rear tires are sliding. Once they grip, they will launch in the direction they are facing. YOu want to them grip AFTER you are straight. So gradually let off on the gas as the rear end comes back around. If you are good you can swing the back end back and forth and keep going in a straight line. Also get spinning in a good quick donut and suddenlt counter steer and try to recover. You can stop the spin any time you want to with a twist of the wheel. Just practice and it will become second nature.

4wd: try to do a donut in 4wd. it's hard. 4wd will grip as long as the wheels are moving. So try accelerating through some donuts and then do some using the brake. You will see what I'm talking about. Again, play until you can make it brake traction on command and can control the slide.

If more people did donuts, the roads would be a safer place.
2005-12-09 3:37 PM
in reply to: #302432

Pro
4481
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Reston
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow
lara one other thing, you mentioned that its manual transmission...  sometimes its easier to start going in 2nd instead of 1st if you find your tires are spinning.
2005-12-09 6:23 PM
in reply to: #302432

Pro
4612
20002000500100
MA
Subject: RE: Driving in the Snow

A few observation today: 

This guy, apparently thinking that his AWD SUV can go through lots of snow, decided to make a u-turn on a narrow road, INTO a 4 ft snowbank on the other side of the road, stucked there and blocked both ways. 

And there is this car (looks like a rear wheel drive car) got stuck in a pile of snow,  pressed hard on the gas pedal trying to get out.  His rear wheels were spinning like mad making this high pitch noise, but the car wasn't moving an inch.  Then some people got of their cars to help push it out.  I guess some people just don't know what those "2" and "1" at the gear shifts are for.

A normally 20 min ride took us an hour and a half. 

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