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What's That? You Don't Like Winter Driving?Dec 17 '03 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Winter driving doesn't have to be difficult, it can even be fun, you just need to know what you and your vehicle are capable of.
I realize that with the 10 pages of essays on winter driving, I'm not going to be introducing anything new by writing this, but hopefully I provide a slightly different perspective on the issue, as I'm going to be delving deeper than just saying "drive slowly." A Little About Me In order to understand what I say, it's only logical that you know where I'm coming from. My entire life I've lived in Calgary, Alberta, Canada; which typically receives 6 months of winter and 6 months of summer. Given the geographic location of this city, I've grown accustomed to large dumps of snow, which gets packed down, and then the Chinook winds blow in and cause it to all turn into ice. Calgary is a city of nearly a million people, so the major roads typically are cleared within 24 hours of a storm and are of no major concern, but the side roads typically don't see anything for a long time (for instance, our last snow fall was over 3 weeks ago, and just two days ago gravel was put down in my neighborhood). I've seen almost every type of winter driving there is, and contrary to 95% of the world, I enjoy it all. What Conditions are the Worst? Traffic is always at its worst right after a big dump of snow, but the roads typically aren't all that bad. The worst comes when the snow has been on the ground a while, warm weather has come and caused some melting, and then everything turns into a big sheet of ice when the temperature drops again. A lot also depends on what the temperature was like before the snow fell, as warm temperatures cause the bottom layers to turn into slush, which then turns into ice. Driving on fresh snow is generally the best type of winter driving you can get as far as I'm concerned, but most people just don't feel secure if they can't see the dry pavement, and therefore drive slower than necessary. Conditions are different every other day, so you need to constantly reevaluate your driving practices to adjust for the current conditions. Like everybody says, "slow down and be cautious," but just because you aren't driving on a dry surface doesn't mean you have to go 20 under the limit. The Close Calls I can't lie and say that I've never been going too fast for the conditions and ended up in situations where the stationary objects (and sometimes the moving objects) are much closer than they should be - although I've never actually hit anything (excluding the box at the end of my garage that's mighty fun to drive into). The excitement that builds as you slide around is only comparable to some amusement park ride like The Drop of Doom, except you don't really know the outcome. The thrill of wondering what's going to happen to your insurance premium is virtually unbeatable. How do you combat that fear? Well, although everybody is different, I take every good chance that I get to intentionally lose control. Why? Partially because I find it fun, but also because it gives me a better understanding of how the vehicle will move in the event of a real loss of control. You don't want to do this out in the country in case you end up in the ditch, but just find some quiet side road where there aren't any real obstacles (pedestrians don't matter, their bones can heal) and let loose. The more you practice, the better you will become at avoiding/counteracting the loss of control that can come with winter driving. Is My Vehicle Good Enough? In the city I drive a 1988 Honda Accord (Front wheel drive), and with all 2 inches of clearance I'm fine, so if it can handle the conditions, most other cars can too. Outside of the city I drive a 2003 4Runner, where 4WD is typically on, but it can still slide quite a bit, it's just better at recovery. The vehicle you drive does make a difference, but it's not the biggest factor. 4WD beats FWD and RWD, but it doesn't mean that you can't lose control. There are newer features like skid/traction-control, and they are just as helpful in keeping you in control. Clearance is something else you should look for, as big ruts can develop. You don't want a high center of gravity, but you also want enough ground clearance to prevent the bottom of your vehicle from getting hammered. About a month ago while driving my Accord, the lighting on the ground wasn't too great and I didn't see how deep the ruts were, and ever since it has sounded like something's about to fall off (I should probably get it checked out). Having a manual transmission is also something I find to be very helpful in both starting and stopping. With an automatic, all you really have is the brakes, whereas with a manual you have both brakes and the ability to slow the engine. I prefer manual's all around, and I am very comfortable with them, but if you aren't then you are probably safer with an automatic. In many ways I feel an AWD Subaru is one of the best vehicles you can get for winter driving. They provide decent clearance, good traction-control technology, and the like. I'm not going to get into the specifics here though, since there are many other vehicles that are just as good. So what should you be concerned about more than anything? The Tires! Many people don't seem to realize that the only thing keeping them in contact with the ground is a relatively small section on each of the tires. However, having good winter tires is the best thing you can do if you want to stay in control. Having just undergone quite the fiasco trying to find some winter tires for my '03 4Runner, I ended up with some studded tires, which were put on today and so far they seem to be much better. However, many places don't allow studded tires anymore, as they can really eat up the road surface, so other winter tires are what you should look at. Given the wide range of winter tires that are out there, I'm not going to spend my time writing about them here. If you go to a reputable tire store, they can provide you with better information more specific to your vehicle. Prices vary and can get quite high, but don't ever go for the cheapest. By going with the cheapest, you are only getting a slightly better tire than that of an All-Season Radial. You don't want to sacrifice quality when dealing with tires, so be prepared to pay a hefty sum. Should I take a Winter Driving Course? I never have, and probably never will. Being the way I am, I find to just practice on your front street to be not only fun, but educational as well. If you doubt your driving skills, go ahead, it's not a bad idea by any means. It's just like normal driving; you'll get better with more experience. You can also opt to just stay at home or find another form of transportation - but where's the fun in that? Starting & Stopping Generally, the most difficult part of winter driving is starting and stopping. To start moving, you must very gently apply pressure to the gas pedal, otherwise your tires will spin and you'll get nowhere. Stopping is generally where the collisions occur, as people don't give enough space between each other and don't slow down enough prior to reaching an intersection. When you are stopped, constantly check your rearview, as sometimes moving forward that extra inch can save you a bundle of time and money. On hills, starting and stopping is never fun. If you can avoid the hill, do so. If not, then just drive even slower and be incredibly patient. Snow tires and chains really help, but it is still required that you move slowly and give lots of space between yourself and other vehicles. I'm not going to go over the other techniques of winter driving, as when I read about them they didn't help me even remotely. They can be found all over the place if you insist on reading them, but I'm not going to support something that I find to be a complete waste of time to read. So What Does This All Mean? Winter driving can be made enjoyable; you just need to know how to handle yourself and the vehicle. Regardless of the vehicle you have or the tires you have, you always run the risk of losing control, regardless of the conditions. Always pack some sort of a survival kit in the event that you hit the ditch or come upon somebody who wasn't properly prepared. Basically, increase your awareness, be confident (just not overconfident), and don't be an idiot. Just because you're a good driver doesn't mean you won't get in an accident.  |
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