Driving in Snow and Ice

Everything you need to know to prepare you for the rough winter roads.

From Reader's Digest

Be Prepared

Winter weather can make driving difficult and dangerous, so follow these guidelines to make sure you're safe and properly prepared on the road.

• Do not accelerate hard in an attempt to pull away. The spinning of the wheels will compact the snow and make gripping even more difficult; snow may also become packed into the tire treads, lowering their gripping ability.
• Ensure that the wheels are straight so that the treads are in the best position for gripping the surface.
• Find something to pack under the driving wheels to improve their grip, such as sand, grit, sacking or twigs.
• To lessen the risk of wheel spin, start in second gear so that there is less torque (turning effort) applied to the wheels.
• Press the accelerator gently, just enough to move the car forward slowly, and slip the clutch as necessary to keep the engine revving.
• If there are any passengers in the car, they may be able to help by pushing the car forward as you drive off. Tell them to stand at the sides - so that the car does not roll or slide into them - but well away from the driving wheels or they will be sprayed with dirt, snow and packing material.
• Once the car gets moving, do not stop to pick up passengers or gear until you have reached a firmer, level surface.

• It is sometimes possible to drive out of snow about 12 inches or so deep by moving the car backward and forward to build up a track - a technique known as rocking.
• Try to move forward a few inches by engaging first gear and then revving gently, slipping the clutch as necessary to avoid stalling.
• While the car is as far forward as it will go, quickly engage reverse and move slowly backward for a few inches.
• Repeat the backward and forward movements until you can mount the piled-up snow and drive out of the trough.
• If this method fails, the alternative is to dig the snow away from in front of all four wheels, and use the techniques recommended above for moving off on hard snow and ice.

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