Snow does not cause accidents

[jaylhouse]

It's that time of year again and I firmly believe this. Snow does not cause accidents. People cause accidents. People either don't drive for the conditions, or don't prepare their car for winter weather (tires and general maintenance ect.). Please everyone be careful out there

[Frank Lee]

What is maintenance ect?

[jaylhouse]

The part of car ownership most Americans don't realize exists

[Cobb]

Gotta change your oil or the snow will get ya.

[jaylhouse]

ect. I think you were being sarcastic, but Maybe i abbreviated it wrong, it means blah blah and so on other things i didn't list

[user removed]

Snow & ice create conditions where drivers who have no clue continue to drive without a clue, with predictable consequences.

regards
mech

[redpoint5]

My advice is to find a safe place to drive like a maniac in the snow and get familiar with the handling capabilities as well as learn recovery techniques.

I'm an excellent snow driver, but only because I drove like a madman as a kid. Miraculously I have never been in a snow related crash.

[Cobb]

Thats like saying people dont kill people, guns do. Snow takes a different driving technique. ABS can be rather distracting to one not use to it. It took me by surprise, then I found if I ignored the kicking and floor the brakes the car stopped faster. I ended up flooring either petal to go or stop as I also had trac control. Now using that learned behavior on an older car without abs or trac control will get me in an accident.

[user removed]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

My advice is to find a safe place to drive like a maniac in the snow and get familiar with the handling capabilities as well as learn recovery techniques.

I'm an excellent snow driver, but only because I drove like a madman as a kid. Miraculously I have never been in a snow related crash.

When my customers asked me for advice for new teenage drivers, I told them to take them to an autocross, where they could learn the limits of their machine and skills. Exactly what you posted redpoint only different conditions.

I never tried ice racing but I think it would be an absolute blast, especially without studded tires that are still illegal in Virginia.

You have to know your limits to make good judgements and nothing replaces practice in identical conditions.

regards
mech

[redpoint5]

You've got to know where the line is if you are to keep from crossing it.

In snow/ice, I test the conditions periodically to see what level of traction I have. Not all snow/ice behaves the same, and traction can vary drastically. In a safe place, I will mash the brakes to see what my stopping distance is. Then I will swerve a little to see cornering performance.

A common natural reaction people have in panic situations is to mash the brakes and steer away from the threat. Often times the best thing to do is ease off the brakes and gently steer around the obstacle. The wheels can only steer the vehicle if they are turning. Locked wheels are no longer steering, and turn the car into a sled. Getting into a panic and steering more sharply will reduce the ability of the vehicle to manuver around the object. Very slight steering off the direction of slide will give maximum traction to changing course.

Some of these crashes could have been avoided by gentle steering rather than locking up the brakes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e615aOXWXw

Watch at 6:40 how this car instantly steers just after the driver releases the brakes. Allowing the wheels to turn restored cornering traction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDY5wLayYU0&t=6m38s