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The
best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you
can avoid it.
Don't
go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their
work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.
If
you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared and that
you know how to handle road conditions.
It's helpful
to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you're
familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner's manual for tips
specific to your vehicle.
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Driving
safely on icy roads
Decrease
your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at
least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of
you.
Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the
brake.
Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
Keep your lights and windshield clean.
Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads,
which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the
conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed
roadways like bridges.
Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited
visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than
the road behind.
Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and
front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.
If your rear
wheels skid...
Take
your foot off the accelerator.
Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels
are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the
steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few
times to get your vehicle completely under control.
If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady
pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.
If your front
wheels skid...
Take
your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.
As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will
return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the
transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate
gently.
If you get
stuck...
Do
not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help
get traction.
Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first — it can damage the
transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back
again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the
vehicle gets going.
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Gaunt Collision Centre staff has over 125
years experience in the collision industry and is dedicated to highest quality
repairs.
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All repairs done at our body shop are
guaranteed to repair your car back to its pre-accident condition.
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At our Barrie location, our
professional staff strives to make the repair process of your vehicle as
uneventful for you as possible.
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