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'Tis the season...don't get stuck !Sep 29 '00 (Updated Oct 03 '00) Write an essay on this topic.To honor the 25th Upper Michigan Winter I will be driving in, I decided there is no time like the present to write some member advice on the dreaded, but always eventful: don donnn donnnnnnn Winter Driving. The way I see it, if I haven't learned a thing or 700 in these past 25 winters then I should pack up my bags, load them in the Jetta, and move my frozen behind to Florida. EASY ON THE GAS THERE HOT FOOT: First things first. Everything happens way too fast in the winter. I for the life of me don't know why, but every year, 25 out of 25, I see the same thing over and over. People just don't adjust their speed accordingly. They still lead foot it all the way to the intersection with the misguided notion that they can still stop in the minimal distance they are accustomed to in the summer months. Guess what, smashed into boys and girls... they don't stop until something makes them stop. Don't worry though, it was just a dog.... a GREYHOUND ! Based on the previous experience, you can figure it out for yourself. SLOW DOWN ! Give yourself plenty of room to safely stop. It is obviously cold out, or the snow would be instead, rain. Remember science 101 ? Under 32º F water turns to ice. What is under all that pretty white snow ? an ice covered road which is NOT conducive to record breaking short stopping distances. Accelerate and decelerate with an easy foot. Start off mildly to keep your car in traction, and slow down and stop with an equally light foot. What you see every first few snows is hundreds of Raymond Babbits driving around. You remember Raymond don't you ? He was Rain Man. An excellent driver... def..definitely an excellent driver ! Well I got news for all you Rain Man wanna bees, you are not an excellent driver, BECAUSE YOU JUST HIT A BUS. I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW: I am a self appointed ice scraper Sheriff. I absolutely hate this scenario: You see someone driving down the road or trying to get out into traffic and all they have to look through is a tiny icy porthole in their windshield. No side window viewing, no rear window view, just this little tunnel vision thing they allowed themselves to see through to "ensure the safety" of that van load of diaper clad ankle biters heading off to day care. Not ever a good idea when I'm on duty. The punishment for this infraction... the forceful making of them to stick their tongue on the closest frozen metal surface available, with no hot water in sight to aid in its removal from said metal object. You should see it up here, hundreds of perps stuck to sign posts, bridges, car bumpers, etc. How does one become exempt to this cruel and unusual form of punishment ? Thoroughly scrape all of your windows 100% to get the best view of everything happening around you ! And let your car warm up before departure so the insides will be defrosted too. Yeah I know, gas prices are soaring, but do you want the ignobility of being front page news with your tongue stuck to the rear end of a steel reindeer ? I thought not. I trust you will do the right thing. Add to this brushing off all the snow from your hood and roof, as well as around every head light, tail light, and blinker light so we can see all of you ! You can spend all that time clearing off your windows only to have residual snow from everywhere on your car you haven't cleared it off from blowing all over the windows as you start driving negating the whole process. Do the right thing, snow brush makers need to eat too ya know ! YOU ARE NOT MICHAEL SCHUMACHER: Unless of course you actually are Michael Schumacher, then in that case... this is so cool... Michael Schumacher is reading one of my reviews. As with starting and stopping with a light foot, driving is also to be done to the tune of one Mr. Barry Manilow. Yeah right, like I listen to B.M. You get the idea though, slow and steady... mellow. There is always an argument in winter driving between you and physics, and physics never lost-a-one. When you turn your steering wheel, physics wants to talk the car into keeping going straight. This is where you outsmart physics. Steer slowly and accurately, no sharp moves or you will not turn. In a front wheel drive, if you break traction while turning the front end wants to keep going toward the outside of the corner, you know... into on-coming traffic some times. In a rear wheel drive, the rear of the car wants to trade places with the front, and you will spin out. You can eliminate both situations by driving within the limits of the available traction and take things slow. SAVE THAT SLUSHIE CRAVING FOR THE 7-11: In the fall of the year during the first few snows as well as those few and far between mid-winter days where you will get that welcome 40º day, but primarily during the spring thaw you will get slush, and plenty of it. Here's what to and not to do. When everything is melty and you see these massive slush fields where a road used to be, as cars drive on them it will create on each shoulder of the road big ridges of the gooey stuff. When you find it necessary to move over to avoid oncoming traffic this stuff will want to suck you in like Darth Vader to a Black Hole. If you find yourself in this predicament your first impression is to try to accelerate out of it. This will accomplish one thing: deep burial in a mushie slushie grave. The first thing you want to do is let your foot off of the gas and let your steering wheel do all of the work. There just is no traction in this stuff at all. It will clog the tread of even the best snow tire and all you will do is spin. In a front wheel drive especially the more you steer left trying in vain to escape the fate of the event, the more right you will go. Steer left, accelerate, and go right. HARD. This is what will happen. What you want to do is let off the gas and simply let the weight and inertia of the car gradually ease you out of your predicament. Once you get into a less slushy area, begin to mildly accelerate and drive the rest of the way out of it. DO IT... AND DO IT NOW: Actually, before winter even arrives, which in some states will be very soon, you should already be preparing for the inevitable. Make sure your car is properly tuned up, have it looked over by a qualified, certified mechanic. Have everything gone over to make sure that little surprise won't happen when it usually does, in the nastiest, stormiest, darkest day of the year. Head off potential disaster by preparing NOW ! Have your battery load tested so it doesn't die on you along with the rest of them when the mercury hibernates low down in the little glass tube. Change the spark plugs if it has been a while. Have your anti-freeze checked for the temperature it is good for before it freezes up and have it flushed and filled if it is weak or old. Install a new air filter if that too hasn't been replaced for a while. If you have snow tires, dig them out and put them somewhere you will constantly trip over them so when the day comes you will know exactly where they are and have them installed. Make sure to tell your tire shop to put in new valves and clean the bead area on the rim if it is even a little dirty. When it gets frigid out the rubber gets very hard, and leaks that were extremely slow in the summer will totally flatten your tire overnight in the winter, so take care of any slow leaks while you still have the time. These are just a few tips on winter driving and I may add to the list as the days go by, so check back periodically to see. Also there are more excellent reviews written by others, so don't be shy about clicking on a few more. Now look below for a few things to keep in your trunk for safety reasons, in case of accident or if you are stranded in a storm. A shovel to dig yourself out if you get stuck in deep snow. Something to aid in traction if you are stuck but not buried. (Cat litter, sand, ashes from the fireplace etc.) A blanket. Chocolate bars for energy. A set of warmer clothes, even to the extent of a snowmobile suit if you need to hike it out of there. A first aid kit. Flares in case of an accident to warn oncoming traffic. A cell phone to call for help. Some of that new non-combustible fuel in case you run out of gas. Medications you are on if you need them. A flashlight with NEW batteries. (get those now too) Take a bottle of water with you when you leave for re-hydration if you have to sleep in your car. And if you do have to sleep in your car, every once in a while you will need to start it for warmth, LEAVE A WINDOW CRACKED A LITTLE SO YOU DON'T GET CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. And this list will no doubt be added to too ! Be safe, not sorry. Be prepared. All those little warnings you get and scoff at just may some day save your life. My kids always laugh at me when we even go for a ten mile ride with all the stuff I bring. But if I need to walk for help when it's ten below zero, I won't get frost bitten or worse along the way !  |
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