Keys to winter driving: Slow down and stay calm
A popular video shows a car getting up to speed-40 mph—then negotiating a 90-degree right turn flawlessly on fresh snow, and the narrator says it's because the driver took it easy on the brake pedal. Counterintuitive? Not if you listen to experts on winter driving. In the YouTube video, the expert is Tim O'Neil, who operates a school for professional drivers in Colorado, and the issue is whether you should slam on the pedal to activate the antilock brake system (ABS), or go with a lighter touch. In the subsequent clip, crushing the pedal sends the car swinging wide, mowing over several cones that represent the centerline of the street the car is turning on to. Stay calm, slow down and don't do anything extreme. Those are the three main messages you hear time and again about how to beat the challenges of winter driving. Advice abounds online, and local automotive pros, including three from GORDIE BOUCHER Nissan of Greenfield, RUSS DARROW Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of West Bend and HEISER Ford Lincoln of Glendale, have valuable tips as well.
• ABS "ABS doesn't stop you any faster, it allows you to steer out of harm's way," said David Vajgrt, sales associate for Heiser. "Before ABS, you had to pump your brakes to keep traction. ABS does that for you, and a lot faster than you can." It also means you don't have to concentrate on doing two things at once, a big plus in an emergency. With ABS, a hydraulic pump reduces or increases or decreases brake pressure to individual wheels that are spinning too fast or too slow. It's automatic—but the driver also has a say. O'Neil tells Orlove that "the trick is to brake as softly as you can get away with" instead of pushing the pedal to the floor.
• AWD Is all-wheel drive the answer to all winter challenges? "It provides some benefit," according to Consumer Reports, "but all-wheel drive is about getting your car moving from a dead stop — not about braking or steering —and you should be aware of its limitations." Tests revealed that all-wheel drive aided less than winter tires when braking on snow and ice. This does not mean you goofed up when you bought that all-wheel drive vehicle. Stopping is important, but so is getting under way. An advantage of AVVD, Consumer Reports says, is how it automatically directs as much power as is needed to the front and rear wheels, which is useful for getting out of drifts, starting uphill and "seamless acceleration in slippery conditions." On the other hand, tests also showed that front-wheel drive delivers good traction in most driving situations. Darrow service manager Dale Janus said that how you drive is as important as what you drive — and whether your vehicle is equipped with traction control and stability control. "If you have traction control, normal acceleration," he said. "All-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, going uphill... normal acceleration."
• Stopping on ice We've all seen video of cars, trucks and buses sliding down icy hills into pileups. You can't stop cell phone rubber necks from catching the action, but you may be able to reduce your chances of becoming a YouTube star. "To be honest, there is no great answer for what to do when you hit ice," said Boucher service adviser Duke Hoffman. "The best thing is take your foot off the gas." Shifting into a lower gear — D2 or D3 if your automatic transmission car allows it — can help, too, he said, because "engine-braking" keeps the wheels turning smoothly. You absolutely do not want to do anything abrupt, like slamming on the brakes or jerking the steering wheel. "Do as little as possible and allow the car to pass over the ice," say the editors of WikiHowcom. "Do not touch the brakes. Lift your foot off the accelerator and keep your steering wheel fixed in the position it's in. If you feel your car sliding, make a very gentle turn in the same direction." The website also recommends shifting into low gear and, if you can, guiding the vehicle toward spots where there's better traction, such as clear pavement, sanded areas—even ice that's textured instead of smooth. If you start to skid anyway, apply the brakes normally if you have ABS; if you don't, gently pump the pedal and "steer the car in the direction you want it to go."
• Getting out of piled-up snow If you still plow into a drift, WikiHow says to first try shifting into reverse or the lowest forward gear and accelerating gently. Make sure all-wheel or four-wheel drive is activated if you have it. If that doesn't work, your next step should be digging out by clearing a path for each tire to follow and throwing sand, road salt or kitty litter onto the area. WikiHow notes that you'll have a better chance of getting out if you keep the wheels aimed straight and accelerate lightly to prevent the tires from spinning. What about "rocking" the car by shifting from forward to reverse and back until you're free? Fuhgeddaboudit, says HighGearMedia.com Tom Torbjornsen. "The stress on the transmission and drivetrain can cause internals to break." Instead, he suggests calling a tow truck or the roadside assistance number provided by the vehicle's manufacturer.
• Be aware Vehicles today come with technology designed to keep you safe by keeping you out of accidents. But it goes out the window if you're going too fast, leave too little room between your vehicle and the one ahead or aren't paying attention. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 41% of all weather-related car crashes happen in snow, sleet, ice and slush. The result is 2,000 deaths and 150,000 injuries a year—"pretty sobering," Consumer Reports says, "when you consider that those conditions usually exist during just a few months of the year"