Driving in snow

[Lopéz]

Those of you who know me will tell you I'm normally "sod danger and grow a pair" when it comes to motoring matters - but driving in snow (particularly in a RWD car - the difference is immeasurable) is not something to be taken lightly.

Be smooth, try to leave big gaps wherever you can, use the engine to drag the car to a halt and if you brake and start to skid STOP BRAKING or you will just keep sliding until you hit something that doesn't move. It is harder to do than you would imagine because your instinct is to slow down as quickly as possible and therefore you tend to keep your toe firmly on the brake. Also consider gradients, it is a lot easier to lock up going downhill and of course easier to lose traction whilst accelerating uphill.

Biggest problem I have had in the Manta in the snow is sheer lack of rear grip. Now this is okay when I'm mucking about or hanging the tail out but when it comes to say, turning around in a side road it's just an almighty pain because you just can't get moving again when you stop.

Or you could do what most people round here seem to do. Plough on regardless at breakneck speed until you hit something very hard and then sit there blinking wondering what went wrong.

 

[task]

Always remember that it's going to take you a lot longer to stop. Snow is actually slippier once it's been driven over and compacted so watch out for that.

 

[ste_bla]

Top tip : Engine braking!!

 

[DRZ]

Those of you who know me will tell you I'm normally "sod danger and grow a pair" when it comes to motoring matters - but driving in snow (particularly in a RWD car - the difference is immeasurable) is not something to be taken lightly.

Be smooth, try to leave big gaps wherever you can, use the engine to drag the car to a halt and if you brake and start to skid STOP BRAKING or you will just keep sliding until you hit something that doesn't move. It is harder to do than you would imagine because your instinct is to slow down as quickly as possible and therefore you tend to keep your toe firmly on the brake. Also consider gradients, it is a lot easier to lock up going downhill and of course easier to lose traction whilst accelerating uphill.

Biggest problem I have had in the Manta in the snow is sheer lack of rear grip. Now this is okay when I'm mucking about or hanging the tail out but when it comes to say, turning around in a side road it's just an almighty pain because you just can't get moving again when you stop.

Or you could do what most people round here seem to do. Plough on regardless at breakneck speed until you hit something very hard and then sit there blinking wondering what went wrong.

Could not agree more.

Thankfully the LSD and the relatively huge wheelbase of my 5 series keeps things a bit more reasonable but then it weighs a tonne and has relatively wide tyres making braking that bit more heart-in-mouth.

Last time it snowed here (last month's cold snap) I failed to maintain a straight line up my road with any application of power whatsoever, even bringing the clutch up in 2nd got the back end out.

First time in snow is certainly an experience you won't forget!

 

[Justintime]

Never driven an auto in snow, this is the last week with the Focus and my other manual car is gone, any tips? or am i doomed?

 

[Jez]

Isnt this all a bit of a fuss about nothing? My S-class is probably about the worst car in the world for snow driving (Massive, heavy, RWD, huge tyres, automatic), but how much do you really have to do? My road wont be gritted, so thats around 50 meters of snow driving which i will have to do tomorrow, on a 70+ mile commute. The rest is A-road and motorway of which there is no way there will be settled snow.

Best advice is to simply drive on proper roads when its snowy, avoid little lanes.

 

[mr tommo]

Be smooth, try to leave big gaps wherever you can, use the engine to drag the car to a halt and if you brake and start to skid STOP BRAKING or you will just keep sliding until you hit something that doesn't move. It is harder to do than you would imagine because your instinct is to slow down as quickly as possible and therefore you tend to keep your toe firmly on the brake. Also consider gradients, it is a lot easier to lock up going downhill and of course easier to lose traction whilst accelerating uphill.

What about cars with ABS? I presumed I was just meant to let that do the work and keep on the brake?

 

[jamoor]

I have never actually had a problem driving in the snow.

I do understand though why Volvo make their cars FWD.

 

[DRZ]

Isnt this all a bit of a fuss about nothing? My S-class is probably about the worst car in the world for snow driving (Massive, heavy, RWD, huge tyres, automatic), but how much do you really have to do? My road wont be gritted, so thats around 50 meters of snow driving which i will have to do tomorrow, on a 70+ mile commute. The rest is A-road and motorway of which there is no way there will be settled snow.

Best advice is to simply drive on proper roads when its snowy, avoid little lanes.

Have you driven in snow before? Until you have, its perhaps easy to dismiss just how alien it feels. an amount of throttle that would barely have you moving will have you pirouetting down the road if you're not careful - and thats no exaggeration, once you start to slide there really is very little that will reign it in before you manage to clip something.

What about cars with ABS? I presumed I was just meant to let that do the work and keep on the brake?

In my experience, ABS can be a little hit and miss in snowy/icy conditions although is miles better than locking up and letting oncoming traffic slow you down.

 

[Jez]

Have you driven in snow before? Until you have, its perhaps easy to dismiss just how alien it feels. an amount of throttle that would barely have you moving will have you pirouetting down the road if you're not careful - and thats no exaggeration, once you start to slide there really is very little that will reign it in before you manage to clip something.

Course i have mate, i will nurse it at 2mph to the gritted road then be on my way. This isnt Canada.

 

[Kennysevenfold]

Check your tread, drive in as high a gear as possible and obviously keep your speed down.

i thought that was common sence

good advice though

 

[mjt]

as above really..
drive slowly, use as high a gear as possible and use the engine and gears for braking, avoid the brakes as much as possible
don't drive at speeds you would normally as it will end in tears.

as lopez said, its all about smooth driving, avoid sudden and jerky movements with both the pedals and the steering
when going up hill, it's all about momentum. once you start losing speed, change down and keep going. don't stop!

if you're on summer tyres and there's lots of snow (as there was a few weeks ago), think about not going anywhere in the car. if you really don't have to, don't. walk
auto boxes without manual override are a nightmare, so good luck with that

I thought higher gear meant less control over the car? But I guess having less power under your foot is a good thing.

well yes, that's the point. you don't want sudden increases in power

 

[Dolph]

The value of a strip of white tape to show clearly where straight ahead is should not be underestimated, as half the time, you can't feel where it is at all if you're in really good snow.

Engine braking, high gears, incredibly gentle on all controls, and if you don't have to drive, don't, are my best recommendations for snow driving.

 

[DRZ]

Course i have mate, i will nurse it at 2mph to the gritted road then be on my way. This isnt Canada.

2mph

Gritted roads for me (in a major city!) are probably 2 miles away. I have to navigate junctions and roundabouts before I get to anything sane.

Not a gritter in sight here either, I am 99% sure they don't come out once it has started to snow because its too dangerous to be ploughing about in wintry conditions

 

[[TW]Fox]

if you're on summer tyres and there's lots of snow (as there was a few weeks ago), think about not going anywhere in the car. if you really don't have to, don't. walk

Should I consider going by train? There is no snow here and probably wont be but I would imagine there will be at my destination (Just South of Birmingham). I am arriving there in the afternoon and will be using only major roads, surely it will be ok?

 

[mjt]

Should I consider going by train? There is no snow here and probably wont be but I would imagine there will be at my destination (Just South of Birmingham). I am arriving there in the afternoon and will be using only major roads, surely it will be ok?

i have no idea. how much snow are we talking tomorrow?
motorways and will usually be alright, due to the large volume of traffic clearing the snow, but this also depends on precipitation

check it out before you go though

 

[Peter Diffey]

We are talking 6 inches overnight and more during the day

Luckily I have a 3 mile commute across town, which will all be gritted bar work carpark and the road I live on.

Never really driven on snow before, I have done a skid pan training thing though, I guess not that useful for someone living in London

 

[Dolph]

Should I consider going by train? There is no snow here and probably wont be but I would imagine there will be at my destination (Just South of Birmingham). I am arriving there in the afternoon and will be using only major roads, surely it will be ok?

Well, given that the M20 is currently closed, and the M25 is crawling due to the conditions, it's certainly not the case that sticking to the major roads will be ok.

A lot of it depends how it looks in the morning, I'd probably be considering the train to be honest, and I really hate trains.

 

[mjt]

tbh the trains will all be delayed if the UK's expecting 6in..

stay at home

 

[Jez]

Well, given that the M20 is currently closed, and the M25 is crawling due to the conditions, it's certainly not the case that sticking to the major roads will be ok.

A lot of it depends how it looks in the morning, I'd probably be considering the train to be honest, and I really hate trains.

Might not be much work happening tomorrow for me then (Oxford to Crawley via Henley, A404, M4, M25 etc)