How to safely drive on snow and ice
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by: smithandy
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Word Count: 466
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2011 Time: 3:50 AM
Many drivers panic when they see snow falling as they think they won’t be able to get anywhere in their car. But if you adhere to some simple rules for driving in snow and on ice, you should be able to venture out unless the conditions are really poor.
Before you set off at all make sure you car has had a winter check up so you know it’s able to handle the colder and more severe conditions. You might also consider buying winter tyres which will improve road grips on all types of cars from a small Ford Fiesta to a larger <a href="http://www.gowringsford.co.uk/new-cars/galaxy">Ford Galaxy</a>, yes, even on 4x4s. You also want to keep a shovel in the back of your car in the event you get stuck and also some small sandbags to give the tyres grip should you need to.
If you see snow and ice on the roads you should adjust your driving accordingly and try to drive smoother, slower and more delicately as cars don’t react well to sudden movements if the surface is slippery. In addition a snow covered road will conceal hazards such as potholes and debris which could damage your tyres. If you slow down and adjust your driving style to the conditions you’re less likely to have a nasty surprise.
Driving-wise the advice is to drive slowly and both accelerate and brake more gently while using a higher gear than normal to avoid wheel spin. However, if your car starts to slide keep your feet off the brake and the accelerator throttle and steer the car into the skid until you feel the vehicle is back under your control. If you panic it would probably make things worse so try and keep calm. Should you get stuck in a snow bank straighten your wheels and start shovelling snow away from your wheels. If you have sandbags, cardboard or blankets in your car, place these in front of your driving wheels in order to give your tyres some grip. If you’re lucky your council will have filled up those yellow sand boxes you see along local roads and you can use sand from there to create improved road surface. Then when trying to get out place the car in 2nd gear and gently accelerate and try not to stop until you’ve reached firmer and less slippery ground.
So when winter comes and you’re forced out in cold, icy or snowy conditions, keep the above advice in mind and try and drive smoothly and slowly to avoid having to make any sudden moves which might send your car off the road
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