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How To Drive Safely In The Snow
Avoid Accidents And Learn To Drive Safely In The Snow
Avoiding skidding and accidents is perhaps on everyone’s mind as we gear up for the holiday drive or just make the daily trek to work on the icy roads. It is vital to remain under control especially on the snow-and ice-plagued highways. Developing the skills takes time but knowing these rules and regulations are pivotal in surviving accidents and other risks on the highways.
Mac Demere, an expert on safety driving on Edmunds, speaks from his experience having driven from dangerous highways from the prairie of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee and even from Connecticut to California. He has faced snowy roads on a variety of vehicles from 18-wheelers, cars, pickups, and SUVs.
Demere recommends, when driving in snow, get your speed right – not too fast so that you risk losing control, but not so slow that you risk losing momentum when you need it – and brake, steer and accelerate as smoothly as possible. Start gently in second gear, avoiding high revs. Stay in a higher gear for better control. Only use the brake if you cannot steer out of trouble.
Some key essentials before you drive in snow are stated below:
Stay Put At Home
This past week Buffalo was buried in the snow. According to CNN, there was a driving ban which remained in effect in Buffalo and yet still, there were about 18 motorists who were stranded in the snow and had to be rescued. Demere says, “In the face of really bad weather, it's sometimes best to stay home, or, if you're traveling, grab a motel room if it starts to snow. At the least, remain where you are until snowplows and sanding crews have done their work. If you crash on a snowy or icy road, you'll certainly be late — or worse.” The most important tip to avoid getting stranded in the snow is remaining at home until the storm passes.
The Right Kind of Tires Are Important
Tires are the key to preventing cars from spinning out on the highway and having the right set is important for your safety and safety of your fellow passengers. In order to have the right kind of snow traction, Demere recommends winter tires. According to Tire Rack, “To have adequate snow traction, a tire (even a winter tire) requires at least 6/32-inch deep tread.” Most winter tires have wear bars, of the type normally found around 3/32nds of an inch, at 6/32nds. The 6/32nds guidance comes from real-world experience and government rules in some northern countries: The laws there require drivers to start winter with at least 6/32nds tread.
Keep Your Gas Tank Half Full
This rule cannot be emphasized enough. It is a good practice especially during the cold, winter months. A good rule of thumb is to keep the gas tank always half full to avoid running out of gas in the middle of the road. In the cold weather months too, there will be several situations such as changing your route, traffic delay, and you don’t want to see the empty signal on the dashboard.
If you are stuck, the ADA recommends that you turn your wheels from side to side to push the snow out of the way.
Do not try to keep moving if the wheels spin – it will only dig you in deeper.
Use a shovel to clear snow out of the way of the wheels and pour cat litter, sand or gravel in front of the wheels to help get traction. Stay in or close to your car. In heavy snow it is easy to get disorientated and lost or separated from your vehicle. If necessary, you can always hang a piece of brightly coloured cloth on your car to let others know you are there.
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