Driving Safely in Snow
One of the most dangerous times of the year on the road is when the snow and ice start to fall. Driving these roads can take a toll on driver and car alike, and if you aren’t prepared for what is out there, you could be involved in one of the over 500,000 crashes that happen every year due to snow, sleet, or icy, snowy, or slushy pavement. Here are our top nine tips for driving safely in snow:
Know How the Road Affects Your Vehicle – You need to understand that your vehicle behaves differently in the snow. Acceleration, deceleration, and steering input takes longer to respond. Considering these delays will help you start maneuvering before it is too late.
Consider Your Route – Plan your path ahead of time for a flat, low-risk route that reduces the potential for accidents. Make sure you know the roadways, and the traffic flows. Simply using a well-thought-out route can help eliminate much of the potential for an accident.
Be Deliberate – Fast, jerky moves will cause your vehicle to lose traction, breaking loose and leading to swerving. Often, jerky movements will lead to larger movements as a driver tries to recover, and can cause complete loss of control.
Don’t Stop Unless Necessary – It takes more inertia to start moving from a full stop than even if you are moving slightly, so staying in constant motion is necessary. Try to time lights and traffic, and don’t come to a full stop at stop signs unless totally necessary. Don’t blow through them of course, but braking down to even one or two miles per hour can provide enough time to look in all directions, without totally losing momentum.
If You Have to Stop, Do So Slowly and Evenly – Sudden braking will cause skidding, leading your brakes to lock up and a loss of control. Apply your brakes slowly and steadily, with a firm foot press. Don’t let up if you feel anti-lock brakes kicking in – tat is part of their job.
Don’t Smash the Gas – Slow and steady pressure is the only way you’ll be able to get moving, pressing hard on the gas will only spin the wheels and potentially dig you into a hole. If you dig in your drive wheels, you will have to dig yourself out, and could potentially hold up traffic or cause an accident.
Don’t Give It Gas Up Hills – Work up your speed before hitting a hill and use the gas pedal sparingly and lightly going up, letting the inertia carry you. Let the speed bleed off as you reach the top, so that when you begin heading down the hill again, you are moving at low speed and have full control.
Don’t Give Up Going Up a Hill – Once you have committed to a hill, you need to make sure you push to the top. Stopping on the way up can lead to loss of momentum, making it difficult to get moving on an incline again. Even worse, it could cause backsliding or loss of control.
Use Chains – Any way you can get a little extra grip is good, and adding snow chain to your tires will provide protection and control. At RUD, our snow chains meet some of the highest standards across the world, including the U.S. standards.
By following these tips for driving in the snow, you can lessen your accident risk and feel safer in all conditions. Driving in snow can be risky, but knowing the risks and how to handle them will not only give you peace of mind, but keep the rest of the drivers on the road safe as well. At RUD Chain, our aim is to make you feel safe behind the wheel of your car, even in the toughest conditions.
