Car Care
Winter Driving Tips
Better traction begins with your brain
Created by Tom MorrA vehicle's most vital safety feature is its driver. In the winter, vehicular equipment such as four-wheel drive, tire chains, ABS and dual airbags can't always compensate for right-foot incompetence on the pedals. The honest truth is that most modern vehicles' capabilities exceed their drivers' skills, especially in bad weather.
Many people erroneously believe that an SUV—particularly a 4x4 model—will solve all of their inclement-weather motoring dilemmas. However, these vehicles often give their drivers a false sense of security. We all tend to believe that bigger means better and safer, but most people forget that SUVs have a higher center of gravity than cars, and their greater weight means longer stopping distances. Driver overconfidence often leads to accidents, many of which could be avoided with a little preparation and education.
Techniques
First and foremost, wheelspin means lost traction. Because traction is easier to lose than it is to regain, the focus of winter driving is to avoid wheelspin.
Most drivers think vehicle control equals steering—point the front tires with the steering wheel and control the car's direction. This is true to a certain extent, but doesn't tell the whole story. In general, less steering is more in regard to winter conditions. The farther the steering wheel is from its center point, the more steering it takes to make a correction. Because steering transfers the vehicle's weight from side to side and abrupt maneuvers make the mass move faster, this weight transfer increases the chances of losing traction. A smart bad-weather cornering technique is to try to complete all steering during the first third of the turn. This allows time and space for correction should traction give way.
Also, never combine steering and braking. Brakes are designed to stop the vehicle in a straight line. In low-traction conditions, modulate (pump) the pedal so that the brakes won't lock the wheels. All the while, steer as straight as possible.
For acceleration, smooth is the rule. If the tires begin to lose traction, resist the temptation to stomp on the brakes. This causes abrupt weight transfer, which makes traction even harder to regain. The science of skid-control involves shifting the vehicle's weight to the corner that has the best traction: braking transfers weight forward, acceleration sends it rearward and steering moves vehicle weight side to side. Knowing this and doing it instinctively require practice.
Winter Checklist
A few common-sense preliminaries can lessen the probability of winter-driving mishaps:
> Check the weather forecast and allow more travel time than you initially think is necessary.
> Whenever possibly, drive during the day for better visibility and faster assistance should you need it.
> "Winterize" your vehicle with the proper parts and maintenance procedures. (This is another story in itself.)
> Snowy shoes and boots can fog up the windshield. To help defog, make sure the HVAC's (heating/ventilation/air conditioning) RECIRC setting is off. To dehumidify the interior, run the air conditioning. Besides, heat induces drowsiness.
> Big mittens and other restrictive clothing impair driving skills.
> During the day, wear good sunglasses, preferably with a glare-reducing lens coating.
> At night, look down and to the right instead of into oncoming headlights.
> Seatbelts, seatbelts seatbelts.
> Properly positioned headrests can reduce neck, back and spine injuries in case of a rear-ender.
> If possible, choose alternate routes around hills, bridges and heavy-traffic areas.
> Talking on a cell phone, disciplining passengers and even listening to the stereo can compromise concentration.
> Watch your speed. The police may decide that the posted speed limit isn't safe for the conditions and issue tickets for any speed they deem unsafe.
> Leave extra space in front and behind. This increased margin of error gives you and other drivers a greater chance of salvaging low- or no-traction situations.
> Drive with the lights on, even during the day. Low beams don't reflect back into your eyes off of snow and fog as much as high beams.
> Brake lightly and minimize skidding by pumping the brakes smoothly.
> Keep hands on the steering wheel in the 9:00/3:00 position.
> Avoid abrupt downshifts in vehicles that have manual transmissions. This can cause wheelspin and send the vehicle into a skid.
Winter Driving School
Most of the driving techniques conveyed here come from the Bridgestone Winter Driving School. Located at the base of the Steamboat Springs ski area, the school has a one-mile ice track that includes ten turns (some of which are banked and others that are off-camber). Snow guardrails line the course.
Program vehicles are front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. Driving instructors are full-time professionals, and many teach at other schools from April through November.
The Bridgestone Winter Driving School offers three courses: half-day, full-day and two-day. The half-day session includes "chalk talk," then covers braking, weight transfer, and cornering techniques on-track. Full-day sessions begin in the classroom, then move outside for hands-on maneuvers, including accident avoidance, emergency braking and skid-control. The two-day performance program features semi-private instruction and "generous lapping sessions."
Resource
Bridgestone Winter Driving School, P.O. Box 774167, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477, (800) 949-7543, (970) 879-6104, www.winterdrive.com