Winter Driving Tips to Boost Your Confidence
Posted on Thu, Dec 22, 2011 @ 05:18 PM
By Shawn Leary
Winter driving can be dangerous, and even the most hardened New Englanders get nervous when they see that a storm is on the way. However, don’t let the danger of driving in the snow ruin your winter vacation. The Yankee Inn is located on Route 7, which is salted, sanded and maintained very well. Snow should make your time sledding, snowboarding, or skiing that much more enjoyable and makes the Berkshires that much more beautiful. It should not scare you away. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of things you can do to be safer driving in the snow:
Don’t Drive: I know this post is about tips for beating old man winter, but plain and simple, if the weather is really bad the easiest and safest option is always not driving.
Drive at a safe speed: Be that the speed limit, 10 under, or even 25 under, drive at a safe speed for you and other drivers. Driving too fast is obviously dangerous. However, driving too slowly can be dangerous too. If you find yourself driving much slower than the traffic around you, it is probably best to pull into a restaurant or another area where you can wait for the plows to come by; it will keep you and other drivers out of harm’s way.
Use ABS: Most cars have an Antilock Braking System (ABS). Check to see if your car has ABS before driving in the snow, because it will drastically change the way you brake. When your car begins to slide, the natural reaction is to slam on the brakes. This will not help. Without ABS, your wheels will lock up and continue to slide. You need to pump the brakes. This will allow your wheels to spin, then slow, spin then slow, giving you more traction, and control of the vehicle. ABS essentially pumps the brakes rapidly for you, so if you are trying to stop with ABS, don’t pump the brakes, apply steady pressure.
Downshift: Whether you’re in an automatic or standard, downshifting will allow your engine help you control the car. Engines, by design want to constantly go faster. Downshifting prevents this and will help you to slow down when you take your foot off the gas pedal, without as much risk of sliding as braking would give you.
Add Weight: Front wheel drive vehicles are better for winter driving than rear wheel drive vehicles because they have the weight of then engine directly above them. If you drive a rear wheel drive vehicle, a way to help add traction is to add weight above the tires. If you have a rear wheel drive car, throw sandbags in the trunk, for a rear wheel drive truck (without 4 wheel drive) put a couple 5 gallon buckets in the bed filled with sand.
Be Cautious of Bridges: Bridges and overpasses freeze faster and easier than the normal road. So even though the road might be fine, Bridges could still be frozen.