Jan 2, 2008

What to Do in Snow and Ice

Winter has just begun, and yet various parts of the country have already seen more than their share of snow and ice. After nine months of driving on dry roads, switching your driving brain to winter mode can be a difficult task. But if you don't make the transition, your safety may well be at stake.

Here are six important things to keep in mind when driving this winter:

• Clearing snow clogged roads is an important task, so allow sufficient room for maintenance vehicles and plows. So stay at least 15 car lengths (200 feet) behind snowplows and other snow maintenance vehicles; if you need to pass, go to the road service vehicle's left, but be aware that snow flying from the snowplow could obscure your vision or, worse yet, send your car off-course.
• Watch for icy surfaces on bridges, even when the rest of the road seems to be in good condition. Winds blowing under bridges can cool the road surface above causing icy conditions that can be hazardous. So be wary when driving under bridges, especially when temperatures hover around 32 degrees.
• If you get stuck in snow, extricating yourself can be difficult. If you find yourself stuck, straighten the wheel and accelerate slowly. Adding sand or cat litter under the drive wheels can help avoid spinning the tires.
• Snow and icy surfaces offer your tires, much less traction than dry roads.  If your tires lose traction, continue to look and steer in the direction you want to go. If the drive wheels start to spin or slide while going up a hill, ease off the accelerator slightly and then gently resume speed. Spinning tires are the enemy and abrupt movements on the accelerator and only make a bad situation worse. Because you're stopping distances or longer on low traction surfaces, look farther ahead in traffic than you would normally. Actions by other drivers, like the application of brakes, will alert you to problems and give you extra seconds to react.
• When changing lanes, avoid cutting in front of trucks, which need more time and distance than cars to stop. Be hesitant to use cruise control in precipitation and freezing temperatures. Momentary wheelspin caused by low traction surfaces like ice can cause cruise control systems to accelerate or decelerate erratically. Apply constant, firm pressure to the pedal with anti-lock brakes.  The pulsing in the brakes should not alarm you; it simply indicates that the antilock brake system is working properly.  Continue to apply strong pressure to the brakes, even as the pedal pulses.
• If you have an SUV or other all-wheel-drive vehicle, remember that four-wheel drive may help you to get going quicker and maintain your way in heavy snowpack, but it won't help you stop any faster.

With preparation and knowledge, winter travel can be as enjoyable as the crisp air. Visit the AAA Web site for safe driving tips all year long.