Driving in snow will greatly change how you and your car behave should a serious situation arise. It is important to be fully aware of your limits; this includes both your own and your car – not forgetting those of other road users!
The lack of grip can immobilise even the most able of cars from time to time. Some cars are much better in the snow than others, but in some situations even the most able snow warriors can fail, often in spectacular fashion.
With this in mind it’s worth staying focused on your driving environment. Skidding, sliding and hitting things are the greatest associated with driving in snow.
Avoid making any sharp movements with the steering wheel. It’s also worth avoiding harsh acceleration, sudden braking and travelling at high speeds.
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This video provides some good advice on winter driving:
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General Driving
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Keep in a higher gear as possible – Try to keep in as high a gear as possible to avoid wheel spin. Although you should always concentrate whilst driving, ensure you double your concentration in the snow. You may have covered many thousands of miles in everyday road conditions, but most people will drive fewer miles in snow than they do when learning to drive, making the majority of the public very inexperienced snow drivers!
When venturing out in the snow ensure you have a fully charged mobile phone, ideally a hot drink in a flask, and also a spade should you get stuck in snow.
The advice above is designed to keep you safe, but we are realists, we know in all probability few people will actually bother taking a spade or having a hot drink in a flask.
If you are going to take one thing from these snow tips, it should be – be prepared for the unexpected, and do as much as you can to be prepared. During our advanced driving courses, we help drivers take a more defensive, safe approach to driving, and help them in a range of driving situations, including driving in snow.
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At a Glance:
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1. Keep in a higher gear as possible – this includes starting off, if needed, in second or third gear, using slightly more revs to avoid stalling and engaging the clutch slower. With automatic cars change up and down manually if possible.
2. Allow up to 10 times the usual distance from the vehicle in front. Not always possible but always ask, if the vehicle in front had to brake, what would happen to your vehicle, could you avoid them?
3. Look much further ahead…much further
4. Don’t get led into a false sense of security – high risk times are when the roads clear a little, but snow is still on the ground
5. Reducing tyre pressures a little can improve traction in snow but be very careful here, as too low can be very dangerous.
6. If someone behind is driving too close, increase the distance from the vehicle in front or pull in and let them past.