Winter Driving Tips

aephi alum · #1 12-14-2003, 08:46 PM

You know all that snow that's falling in the Northeast US right now? I just spent 6 hours driving in it.

I must have seen twenty accidents, including a 15-20 car pile-up on the interstate, and another accident that blocked all lanes and held me up for two hours - and people were flashing their high beams and flipping me the bird because I was being cautious and not driving like a bat out of hell.

Some winter driving tips from aephi alum:

1. If you don't have to travel, don't travel.
2. If you think you have to travel, you don't have to travel. See rule 1. (aephi alum didn't heed this one

)
3. If you must travel, have snow tires or chains, or at least good all-season tires.
4. Take it slow and easy. Don't brake suddenly if you can help it - you may spin out.
4. 4-wheel drive, anti-lock brakes, being in an SUV, etc. do not make you invincible.
5. Steer into a skid.
6. Carry water, food, a blanket, and a good emergency kit (including flares).
7. Carry a fully charged cell phone so you can call 911, AAA, family and friends, etc.
8. Be sure someone else knows your travel plans in case you can't call for help.
9. Try to be sure your gas tank is full when you set out.
10. Carry a good brush and ice scraper to clear ice and snow from your windows. Pull over if necessary to clear ice and snow for visibility. Don't forget your side windows.
11. Carry some sand or kitty litter. You can spread it on top of snow or ice for traction.
12. Be courteous. Even if you have AWD, ABS, etc. not everyone else on the road does. Kindly keep your middle finger to yourself.

Stay safe this winter, everyone. It's shaping up to be a bad one.

PhiPsiRuss · #2 12-14-2003, 08:51 PM

aephi alum · #3 12-14-2003, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by russellwarshay

And that's fine if you don't live in the boonies like I do...

We're lucky we have a bus system.

Roseblum15 · #4 12-14-2003, 09:35 PM

Please be careful driving in the snow everyone. The day of the first big snow here, my close friends fiance was killed in a weather related car accident. So please take your time and be careful.

Kevin · #5 12-15-2003, 12:03 AM

When at a stop light, allow plenty of room between yourself and the next car. Do not stop. Apply the brakes lightly so as to allow the car to creep along slowly. This will keep your car from becoming stuck on the ice.

DeltAlum · #6 12-15-2003, 12:37 AM

Having driven on ice and snow for 40 years now, I can agree to pretty much everything that has been said, however, my best advice is simply to do your very best not to break traction either starting or stopping. If you have traction, you are in control of your car. If you don't have traction, you probably aren't.

The secret to holding traction is to drive as smoothly as possible, never using too much accelerator to get started, or too much brakes to stop. The best way to do that is to keep safe intervals between cars.

lionlove · #7 12-15-2003, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by aephi alum
4. 4-wheel drive, anti-lock brakes, being in an SUV, etc. do not make you invincible.

12. Be courteous. Even if you have AWD, ABS, etc. not everyone else on the road does. Kindly keep your middle finger to yourself.

Stay safe this winter, everyone. It's shaping up to be a bad one.

I'm repeating these because the vast majority of accidents I see involve SUVs and 4 wheel drive cars who drive fast because they think they're invincible.

absolutuscchick · #8 12-15-2003, 12:51 AM

Boy am I glad I've never driven in the snow!!! Yay for Arizona and California

MeLikey · #9 12-15-2003, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
The best way to do that is to keep safe intervals between cars.

This is very true--my dad just told me the same thing today, because he almost got into a car accident today... if he had been driving a little closer to the car in front of him he definitely would have ran into him because the car had fishtailed in front of him.

GeekyPenguin · #10 12-15-2003, 01:30 AM

These are all really great tips. Here's another one: if you are scared to drive faster than 30 on the freeway, turn on your damn headlights. In fact, drive with them on all the time.

doubleblue&gold · #11 12-15-2003, 02:21 AM

Once you start up a hill, don't stop-----otherwise you'll never make it to the top! And if there's NO traffic, don't stop for lights or signs, keep moving. Believe me the police won't stop you because they don't want to stop either.

Don't drive like a bat out of hell, but don't drive too slow either. You becone the road hazzard. If you're only going 5 mph you'll end up getting stuck!

Keep a camera in the car. If you do have an accident, you may have to wait forever for someone to show up or you may have to move your vehicles----pictures help show what happened.

jharb · #12 12-15-2003, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by doubleblue&gold
Once you start up a hill, don't stop-----otherwise you'll never make it to the top! And if there's NO traffic, don't stop for lights or signs, keep moving. Believe me the police won't stop you because they don't want to stop either.

This is so true! Last night it was snowing here and one of my sisters and I went to dinner and there was no one coming at this light and we couldn't stop! We just kept going and the officer behind us didn't do anything. We tried to stop, but the roads were just too slick!

bethany1982 · #13 12-15-2003, 03:16 AM

Watch out for idiots!

astroAPhi · #14 12-15-2003, 03:47 AM

My best "Holiday" driving advice:

DON'T BE AN ASSHOLE!

kappaloo · #15 12-15-2003, 04:17 AM

some more advice:

Know when to admit defeat. If there is 8 inches of snow on the hiway, and it's still snowing, and where you are driving isn't plowed (or plowed well).... GET OFF THE ROAD!

Your life is more important then getting anywhere in conditions like that.