Summary: /* Heading out in the snow */
[[Image:Blizzardwiki.jpg|630px|thumb|left|Photo by [http://twitter.com/brianelmquist/status/19514960488964096 Brian Elmquist] via Twitter]]
When you wake up the morning after a snowstorm to find 2 feet of fresh powder piled up in your driveway, you can guarantee that traveling anywhere outside your home is going to be a chore. Driving is going to be especially dangerous.
The only foolproof way to stay safe when the roads are covered in winter snow is to stay at home. But sometimes, you ''have to'' go out. So if you must, here are some ways to make your trip safer and easier for you and your fellow drivers.
''This article is part of '''a wiki anyone can edit.''' If you have advice to add, log in and contribute.''
==Consider Alternative Transportation==
Before you start digging out your car... consider the costs and benefits of driving today. Driving is usually more convenient than taking a bus... but not when you have to spend an hour digging out your car beforehand. You may find that taking a bus today is warmer, safer, more convient, maybe even faster than driving.
==Prep your ride==
Part of this must be done ahead of time. The rest of your preparation can be done once you know a storm is coming or even as you're digging out for the daily commute.
===Before the storm===
Most important, if you live in a snowy climate, get your snow tires installed a month or so before you'll need them.
Also, get a set of tire chains and store them in the trunk. They provide an incredible amount of traction in extreme conditions. Chains are required on some mountain passes. Be aware that chains are illegal in certain states because of the damage they can do to the road surface, be sure to check your local laws.
Pack in your car: a blanket (or sleeping bag), flares, a shovel, a small bag of sand or kitty litter, matches and a candle in an old coffee can. The first will keep you warm in case you break down and have to stay in your car for hours. The second will help you mark your car for other motorists to see in a storm, The third can help dig you out. The fourth can provide traction if you're stuck and your wheels are spinning (kitty litter has larger particles and users report that it works better than sand). As for the rest, you can put some sand in the bottom of the coffee can, insert the candle, and light it to make a small lamp and heat source.
Packing food and water in your car is also a great idea if you're traveling longer distances in the wintertime.
Water is not going to do you any good if it is frozen solid. The ice may burst the container, and you will have a terrible mess when it thaws. Keep it in the passenger compartment with you, and bring it into your hotel room in the evening.
''Some other thoughts:
1. Flares are great for accidents, but they burn out in a few minutes. To mark the position of your vehicle consider a battery powered strobe that will last for a few hours. Tape or tie it to the antenna.
2. If you remove the cardboard inner tube from a roll of toilet tissue and stuff it in the coffee can, you have a stove that will keep you alive in your car in severe cold. Carry 2-3 12 oz. bottles of isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Pour a couple of oz. on the toilet tissue and light it. Carry a couple of disposable aluminum pie plates. Turn one upside down & use it to set the stove on as a heat shield. Control the heat with the other one by covering part of the can opening (or use the coffee can lid), or use it to melt snow for drinking. Isopropyl alcohol does not make carbon monoxide but crack open a window to keep some fresh air coming in. Intermittent use of this stove will keep you from freezing for many hours.
- submitted by nuke''
3. Always keep a towing rope or bar in your car: someone else might get you unstuck, or you might help the unluckily!
If you are going to do this, read your owners manual carefully to determine proper attachment points for tow ropes, otherwise you might just pull the plastic bumper right off of your car, or cause other damage.
===Heading out in the snow===
* Remove all snow from every surface of your car. Scrape the ice and packed snow off your windows, side mirrors, headlights and taillights. Don't drive with fogged windows. Let your car warm at least enough to clear fogged windows. Check the action of each door release from the outside and ensure each door closes and latches before you head out. Frozen door latch hardware might leave your door swinging open at the worst possible time.
Cleaning the snow from your car will invariably result in you getting snow all over your jacket and your pants. It will probably spill into the edges of your boots, as well. Remove the snow from you and your clothes before you get in the car, otherwise it will melt and soak your clothes and your car seat, and you will have an unpleasant drive.
* Wait for the car to warm up, and remove your heavy coat and hat and boots before you drive. Bring sneakers with you and change into them. Don't drive with heavy clothes on, it hinders your performance more than you think, and you need to be sharp when driving in bad weather.
* Top off your windshield-wiper fluid. Use de-icing fluid if you can get it.
''From nuke: if it's cold enough that this article is of interest then you DEFINITELY should have cold weather anti-freeze type washer fluid! Here in Canada it's standard at all gas bars in winter and protects down to about -40 deg. C.''
* Fill your gas tank. The extra weight can provide extra traction on slippery roads. It also could come in handy if you end up stuck and have to keep the car running to stay warm.
* Make sure your tires are filled to their recommended PSI. Low tire pressure can slow your vehicle's reaction to steering.
* If you live in an area where studded snow tires are rarely needed, you can prepare for a snow storm by mounting conventional tires with chains in advance of the storm. Find two steel rims at a salvage yard that match the wheels on your car. Buy two used tires to match. Chain up the tires before the tires are inflated. Get a good snug fit and have a tire shop remove excess chain links. Then inflate the tires to the recommended pressure. Mount the chained-up tires on your car when it's clear that you will be affected by the snow storm. Drive carefully and slowly on the chained up tires to minimize the possibility of broken cross-links.
*Most modern chains can be mounted even if the car is already stuck, you don't need to drive on them or to remove the wheel. Practize mounting them in a warm and dry environment!
*For those that drive a manual gearbox, that is everybody outside the US of A (A = Automatic): park your car in first gear or reverse, not on handbrake. Brake tend to freeze up, and especially on brined roads they tend to rust stuck. If your brake is stuck do to rust or frost, gently tap it with a hammer.
*If your brakes are stuck, tapping them usually does not help. Find the parking brake cable housing and give it a good yank, it's FAR more effective at smashing up the ice inside your brake housings.
==Take it easy==
WEAR YOUR SAFETY BELT, AND DO IT CORRECTLY!
When driving on snowy roads, it's important to move slowly and be very aware of your surroundings. Driving too fast is a major factor in winter car accidents. Accelerate and brake gently and evenly. Look ahead to turns, intersections or obstacles before you encounter them. Avoid any quick or sudden movements, which can cause your car to lose traction and slide or fishtail.
Drive half the posted speed limit, and double the fair-weather distance between you and the car in front of you. An easy calculation is four car lengths per 10 mph you're driving. That's 12 car lengths at 30 mph. Maintain that distance when you decelerate or approach a full stop.
Keep your lights on at all times. Many vehicle manufactures have equipped day-time running lights (DRL) standard as they improve driver visibility in oncoming traffic during the day. Use high beam lights only for extended vision while night driving, and dim them on approach of another vehicle. High beams make poor DRLs.
Downshift to decelerate instead of using your brakes, especially on downhills. Use a low gear when climbing hills. Be careful when you downshift. Too much speed, and shifting into too low a gear and the transmission will force the wheels to skid some while the wheel-speed reduces to match the gear ratio; too fast, and you'll have an outright skid situation. Release the clutch slowly to help avoid this.
Also, take extra care when crossing bridges or when driving on lightly-traveled roads. These areas are more apt to be icy. If you encounter a snowplow or a truck dumping salt and sand on the road, don't pass it. (Think about it). Stay well back from the equipment, and remember; if the truck discharges sand from the side and you pass closely in either direction, you're going to get sanded too.
Drive in as high a gear as possible, shift smoothly and with low revs, put your automatic gearbox in the wintersetting if possible. You might even try to drive off in second gear.
When driving with chains on a frontwheel drive, be careful with deceleration (lifting the gaspedal in low gear or braking): the car will tend to break out from the back, because your braking force on the front is far greater than the braking force on the backwheels.
A modern car with ABS, and drive stability systems will work like a charm. The anti-spin control may be switched of in some conditions, because it will detect spin and refuse to give power to the drive wheels.
==Emergency measures==
If you start to slide, take your foot off the accelerator, but don't hit the brakes. (If you're driving a manual transmission vehicle, take your foot off the gas, don't hit the brakes, but fully depress the clutch pedal.)
Steer in the direction you want to go, which is often in the direction of the skid. (If the tail end of your car is skidding right, steer right.)
Your car should start to self-correct. Accelerate gently to get your wheels moving again and increase traction. If you need to stop, brake gently. Be careful, as braking hard will stop your wheels and eliminate any traction you may have.
If you have antilock brakes, press your brake pedal gently. You may feel them pulse — this is normal. If you have traditional brakes, pump the brakes gently.
==When you're stuck==
If you end up stuck in a snowbank or on the side of the road, press your accelerator gently to see if you can get free. This isn't a time to hit the gas: Your wheels will likely spin and get you nowhere.
Failing that, you can try rocking your way out. If your car moved a little, gently drive forward up to that point, then release the accelerator and step on the clutch (if driving manual), letting the car slide back. Repeat. The idea is to nudge the car back and forth with gentle use of the accelerator, like pushing on a swing. If you're not too badly stuck, eventually it'll make enough room to build enough speed to break out of the snowbank. Try not to spin the wheels; that'll polish the packed snow under the wheels into ice. You can also steer while rocking, to turn the car to an angle against the snowbank.
If you're stuck for sure, put your car in Park, set the handbrake,and get out and dig the snow away from your wheels and even under the car if you think it's keeping you from moving forward or backward. (Remember that shovel?) ONLY THE SHOVEL goes under the car; not your hand(s), your arm; or any part of you! Then place some of that sand you packed under each wheel, especially the drive wheels — front and/or rear depending on your car.
If all else fails, try to flag down another motorist or call a loved one to help you arrange for a tow truck. If they offer to help by pushing your car remember this. At the rear a spun tire throws stuff back. At the front, turning your wheels while spinning your tires throws stuff in that direction. This is not a nice way to to thank a helper. Is this too late to suggest you sign up for an automobile club membership (or just add towing coverage to you car insurance)?
If you are staying close to your disabled vehicle, stay behind it, not in front of it. Other motorists will see you better. If someone plows into the back end of your car, the last place you want to be is in front of it.
[[Category:Survival]]
[[Category:Cars]]
[[Category:Winter]]