driving in snow for the first time... help

[MJinZ]

Best Advice about Snow:

Stop slowly and plan your stops far ahead of where you have to stop. You have to learn to deal with anti lock brakes which are both a gift and a curse. If you stop too fast, your anti lock brakes will kick in and you basically will not stop at all, but continue sliding.

That's not anti lock brakes. You just described the opposite of anti lock brakes. Or what cars had decades ago.

 

[mmntech]

Rental cars don't usually have AWD either...especially not if he's renting it in Florida.

Depends on who you rent with. My company the Ford Edge, Ford Flex, Hyundai Santa Fe, Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Honda CR-V in AWD. All our pickups are 4x4 as well. I think our Ford Tauruses are AWD too. Mind you we only operate in Canada. Most rental agencies in snowy areas should stock AWD vehicles. Call and ask them. They usually won't guarantee a specific vehicle (only goes by size/class) but they'll try to find your preference.

Like the others said, the key to winter driving is just to take things slow. I've driven nearly everything under the sun in snowy conditions and that's the most important piece of advice I can give.

Don't make sudden movements, plan your stops, turn into the skid if it's FWD, do the opposite if its RWD. Your car will tell you if it's starting to loose grip. You'll be able to feel it. Weigh down the rear in RWD vehicles. Drive slowly in snowy conditions. Plan your trips and give yourself plenty of time. If you do get stuck, rock your car. Cycle between 2nd and reverse and gently ease it out. Use a low gear on icy roads. 2nd is good.

Another good thing to do is pack yourself a winter kit. Bring with you a portable tire pump, blankets, flashlights/flares, ice scraper and brush, jumper cables, some water and food, lock de-icer, cell phone, and a small shovel. I've only gotten stuck in the snow once but I'm sure glad I had a kiddie shovel to dig my wheels out.

Rental companies should offer roadside assistance too, just in case you do get stuck.

 

[JMapleton]

That's not anti lock brakes. You just described the opposite of anti lock brakes. Or what cars had decades ago.

Anti-lock brakes is when you slam on your brakes and your brakes push back and make all these mechanical noises and basically slows down your stopping.

Every single car I've had for the last 15 years has had this.

 

[LTC8K6]

That's not anti lock brakes. You just described the opposite of anti lock brakes. Or what cars had decades ago.

Someone is confused...

 

[Demo24]

Wow this a wealth of information. Thank you everyone. I will be driving from south florida(no Snow) through atlanta and then 2 hours north to the Blue Ridge mountains cabin.

In that case the amount of snow you'll see is probably minimal, of course that all depends on how winter turns out by then but at this rate probably nothing serious. 2 hours north doesn't even put you out of Georgia, so I'm guessing around the Highlands area of NC? If you do get some bad weather I would expect a bit more issues with ice than snow. Most of the main roads will likely be cleared, or safe to travel on during the day. At night and early in the morning will be most dangerous, and of course anything in the shade. Might be running into some black ice, so just be careful in dark damp areas if it's cold outside. If you do hit snow packed roads, or icey roads, just remember to drive very slowly and don't make any sudden movements. Start braking well ahead, if you come to a downhill that's snowy/icey then try to slow down as much as possible before you get on to it, and then try to maintain a constant slow speed down it. Uphill try to maintain consistent throttle input, a steady speed, and well..best not to stop.

Good luck! But I don't think you'll have any issues!

 

[BassBomb]

keep a MUCH larger distance from other cars, brake early, drive slower

 

[JulesMaximus]

Depends on who you rent with. My company the Ford Edge, Ford Flex, Hyundai Santa Fe, Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Honda CR-V in AWD. All our pickups are 4x4 as well. I think our Ford Tauruses are AWD too. Mind you we only operate in Canada. Most rental agencies in snowy areas should stock AWD vehicles. Call and ask them. They usually won't guarantee a specific vehicle (only goes by size/class) but they'll try to find your preference.

Like the others said, the key to winter driving is just to take things slow. I've driven nearly everything under the sun in snowy conditions and that's the most important piece of advice I can give.

Don't make sudden movements, plan your stops, turn into the skid if it's FWD, do the opposite if its RWD. Your car will tell you if it's starting to loose grip. You'll be able to feel it. Weigh down the rear in RWD vehicles. Drive slowly in snowy conditions. Plan your trips and give yourself plenty of time. If you do get stuck, rock your car. Cycle between 2nd and reverse and gently ease it out. Use a low gear on icy roads. 2nd is good.

Another good thing to do is pack yourself a winter kit. Bring with you a portable tire pump, blankets, flashlights/flares, ice scraper and brush, jumper cables, some water and food, lock de-icer, cell phone, and a small shovel. I've only gotten stuck in the snow once but I'm sure glad I had a kiddie shovel to dig my wheels out.

Rental companies should offer roadside assistance too, just in case you do get stuck.

Dude, I grew up in upstate NY. I learned how to drive in the snow...worked for a rental company for many years in upstate NY...we never had AWD or 4WD vehicles. I never even drove an AWD vehicle until I was in my late 30s living in SoCal.

The best thing to do is check the weather report. If there's a bad snow storm predicted for the days you'll be traveling, you might want to adjust your travel plans around the weather.

 

[96Firebird]

You won't get much snow in the south-end of the Blue Ridge Mountains. So all these winter driving techniques won't really be necessary, unless you get stuck a freak storm.

As far as what wheel drive is best, they all have their pros and cons. My first winter beater was an '86 Cutlass Supreme sedan, so it was a tank. Didn't have ABS, was RWD and had a 307ci carbed V8 (not much power though). That was probably the best winter beater I've had, as I got used to driving the RWD with studded snow tires (best thing ever). The first winter I had a FWD car ('93 Buick LeSabre) I slid through a turn and hit the curb on the far side because I mistakenly gave too much gas while turning thinking my rear end would kick around. That didn't happen, but no damage to the car... More recently, with my sold '96 Olds Ciera, I was driving in a horrible winter snowstorm on some backroads up next to Lake Ontario just west of Rochester. I was following a Ford Explorer, and the driver pulled over to let me lead... That little car plowed through the snow with the skinny tires it had, I lost the Explorer in my rear. My girlfriend was freaking out in the passenger seat, because we couldn't see a thing. One of the scariest drives, but we made it.

Rochester winters suck, but they can make for some exciting times.

 

[desy]

Actually I'm seeing MJ's point this time
You said 'you will not stop at all and slide'
In fact you will stop and the wheels turn to KEEP from sliding, they pulse brake which is what you feel. Stopping distances are longer but it allows you to control the car.

 

[JCH13]

-Don't drive like an idiot
-When the traction control light comes on SLOW THE CRAP DOWN I see some people driving right at the limit of what TC can do, then I usually see them in the ditch.
-When safe to do so check to see what sort of braking ability you have on a given road surface by gently applying them. I make a habit of doing this and have found myself on black ice several times going the speed limit, but unable to stop in a reasonably distance. Luckily, because I checked my brakes, I was able to slow down to a safe speed.
-Keep your momentum going up hills, you do not what to try to start on a snowy hill.
-Leave lots of space to brake. Take turns slow, especially if they've got a reduced speed suggestion.
-Don't drive like an idiot.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Actually I'm seeing MJ's point this time
You said 'you will not stop at all and slide'
In fact you will stop and the wheels turn to KEEP from sliding, they pulse brake which is what you feel. Stopping distances are longer but it allows you to control the car.

Stopping distances aren't longer. Both the control and the shorter stopping distance are for the same reason -- because the anti-lock brakes maintain tire traction and prevent skidding.

 

[JulesMaximus]

u forgot the ice

You're a dumbass if you go out driving on icy roads no matter how many wheel drive you have.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Depends on who you rent with. My company the Ford Edge, Ford Flex, Hyundai Santa Fe, Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Honda CR-V in AWD. All our pickups are 4x4 as well. I think our Ford Tauruses are AWD too. Mind you we only operate in Canada. Most rental agencies in snowy areas should stock AWD vehicles. Call and ask them. They usually won't guarantee a specific vehicle (only goes by size/class) but they'll try to find your preference.

Like the others said, the key to winter driving is just to take things slow. I've driven nearly everything under the sun in snowy conditions and that's the most important piece of advice I can give.

Don't make sudden movements, plan your stops, turn into the skid if it's FWD, do the opposite if its RWD. Your car will tell you if it's starting to loose grip. You'll be able to feel it. Weigh down the rear in RWD vehicles. Drive slowly in snowy conditions. Plan your trips and give yourself plenty of time. If you do get stuck, rock your car. Cycle between 2nd and reverse and gently ease it out. Use a low gear on icy roads. 2nd is good.

Another good thing to do is pack yourself a winter kit. Bring with you a portable tire pump, blankets, flashlights/flares, ice scraper and brush, jumper cables, some water and food, lock de-icer, cell phone, and a small shovel. I've only gotten stuck in the snow once but I'm sure glad I had a kiddie shovel to dig my wheels out.

Rental companies should offer roadside assistance too, just in case you do get stuck.

You're in Canukistan though...the OP is in Florida.

 

[exar333]

You're a dumbass if you go out driving on ice no matter how many wheel drive you have.

So what, don't drive in the winter? Thats rediculous. There is ice all over during the winter on the roads around here, sometimes covering the snow you are also driving on.

 

[exar333]

That's not anti lock brakes. You just described the opposite of anti lock brakes. Or what cars had decades ago.

Mjinz - I will back you up 100% on this statement. There is not really a downside to anti-lock brakes in the winter. The whole purpose of ABS is to prevent your tires from locking-up and you losing traction. When you slam on the brakes while driving on slippery snow/ice, you will feel your tires stop/start so you have some ability to steer/keep control. That is what ABS does.

 

[JulesMaximus]

So what, don't drive in the winter? Thats rediculous. There is ice all over during the winter on the roads around here, sometimes covering the snow you are also driving on.

A little ice here and there is no big deal but freezing rain can be a big problem...not something you want to drive on.

 

[Possessed Freak]

If at all possible, keep your car moving. Starting is a real bitch with accumulated snow. Even crawling along is preferable to actually stop/starting (especially if you have to start up hill).

 

[desy]

MY GAWD
Stopping distances are LONGER with ABS

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/tp-tp13082-abs2_e-215.htm

Is the stopping distance shorter with ABS?
No! From early commercials, it may have looked like you could stop on a dime. That instantaneous stop is not realistic. When braking on dry or wet roads your stopping distance will be about the same as with conventional brakes.

You should allow for a longer stopping distance with ABS than for conventional brakes when driving on gravel, slush, and snow. This is because the rotating tire will stay on top of this low traction road surface covering, and effectively "float" on this boundary layer.

A non ABS braked vehicle can lock its tires and create a snow plow effect in front of the tires which helps slow the vehicle. These locked tires can often find more traction below this boundary layer.

 

[MJinZ]

You're a dumbass if you go out driving on icy roads no matter how many wheel drive you have.

You didn't watch the video did ya? Something like Acura's Super Handling AWD won't even bat an eye on ice, as long as two of your tires have some traction.

 

[jlee]

You didn't watch the video did ya? Something like Acura's Super Handling AWD won't even bat an eye on ice, as long as two of your tires have some traction.

Maybe by ice he really meant ice. I've been on a road in my 5000lb+ pickup and came to a stop..and the whole truck slowly slid sideways. That's ice.

 

[jlee]

MY GAWD
Stopping distances are LONGER with ABS

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/tp-tp13082-abs2_e-215.htm

Is the stopping distance shorter with ABS?
No! From early commercials, it may have looked like you could stop on a dime. That instantaneous stop is not realistic. When braking on dry or wet roads your stopping distance will be about the same as with conventional brakes.

You should allow for a longer stopping distance with ABS than for conventional brakes when driving on gravel, slush, and snow. This is because the rotating tire will stay on top of this low traction road surface covering, and effectively "float" on this boundary layer.

A non ABS braked vehicle can lock its tires and create a snow plow effect in front of the tires which helps slow the vehicle. These locked tires can often find more traction below this boundary layer.

True to a point - your typical driver won't brake properly with conventional brakes, though, and ABS is far more effective than locking your tires on dry pavement.

 

[Zap]

True to a point - your typical driver won't brake properly with conventional brakes, though

This is true. No matter how much you think you can make yourself pump the brakes in an emergency, when shit hits the fan, your adrenaline hits and you grab a foot full of brakes...

I did that three times BITD with my Mustang GT. :$ Got slight flat spotted front tires three times.

 

[MJinZ]

Maybe by ice he really meant ice. I've been on a road in my 5000lb+ pickup and came to a stop..and the whole truck slowly slid sideways. That's ice.

Ice road trucking again? hehe

 

[jlee]

Ice road trucking again? hehe

Nah, just a back road in northern NH

 

[JulesMaximus]

Maybe by ice he really meant ice. I've been on a road in my 5000lb+ pickup and came to a stop..and the whole truck slowly slid sideways. That's ice.

I remember creeping up to an intersection, it was downhill and there was a stop light at the bottom, and I couldn't stop my car. I was probably doing around 10mph and everytime I'd touch the brakes the wheels would lock, I'd release them and be rolling again, touch the brakes and they'd lock. I did this over and over again until I slid right through the intersection. Thankfully there was no traffic coming from the side streets.

You have almost no control on ice. The only thing that would have helped is chains or studded tires.