We heard it was going to be bad this winter, but we didn't anticipate it
would be this bad. It seems as though
the snowy weather just won't stop coming, and considering New Jersey has had
something like 9 snowfalls this season, driving in the snow is starting to
become inevitable.
If it's not necessary, driving in ice and snow should be avoided
altogether. If you have to do it, though, there are some techniques that can
only be mastered with experience.
The thing about driving when it's slippery is that when you start to slip
and slide, your knee-jerk reactions aren't always the best moves to make. Here
are a few instances where you want to go against all your driving instincts in
order to avoid a collision.
If
Possible, Slow, but Don't Stop
Thanks to physics, it's a lot more difficult to get your car moving on an
icy road when you're at a complete stop as opposed to when you've got a little
bit of momentum. It's also difficult to come to a complete stop, especially in
a short distance. For the most control, drive as slowly as possible, and start
slowing down with a great distance between you and red lights. That way, by the
time it turns green, you'll still be moving a bit and it will be easier to gain
momentum again.
When
Sliding, Stop Braking and Turn in the Same Direction
Unless you've got a vehicle that's made for the terrain, like a Rocky Ridge
truck, one of the inevitable things about driving on ice is slipping, sliding,
and fishtailing. There's only so much you can do to avoid it happening,
especially in a front-wheel drive vehicle. That said, you can control it. It
might be your first instinct to slam on your brakes as hard as possible. When
you start to slip, take your foot off of the brake and start turning in the same
direction that you're sliding. This will help your car to slow down more
quickly, allowing you to regain control of your vehicle again.
Braking,
Steering, Accelerating: Do One at a Time
You'll probably find that taking turns is extremely difficult during
harsh weather. We typically turn by slowing down, turning the wheel, and
accelerating again, all in one swift motion. Forget everything you learned from
turning in normal weather conditions, though – when turning on a snow-covered
road, slow down as much as possible, then turn the wheel, and don't
accelerate again until you're almost completely finished the turn.
Again, driving in icy conditions takes practice, especially because most
of the best techniques go against a lot of what you've learned from driving in
regular conditions. Overall, the best thing to remember is to move slowly and
give yourself plenty of room – then, you won't have to deal with troubling
situations as often.
Labels: driving, new jersey, snow