snow and brakes - the car or my driving?

cyclonebri1

goldspanners wrote: »

Read The Fu**in Manual!

Nice. thanks GS, to the other bloke, So sad>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Stephb1986_2

My car is the same it has traction control too but it still goes crazy in snow and ice, it also has a winter tyre setting in its computer which i've used but its only made the steering feel heavier.

Steph xx

harveybobbles

I think that part of the driving test should be:

Learn how to jump start a car
Learn how to change a wheel
Learn how to control your car on a skid pan
Learn how to change a bulb
Learn how to check fluid levels
Learn how to use the hand or foot brake instead of the clutch to hold the car still...

cyclonebri1

harveybobbles wrote: »

I think that part of the driving test should be:

Learn how to jump start a car
Learn how to change a wheel
Learn how to control your car on a skid pan
Learn how to change a bulb
Learn how to check fluid levels
Learn how to use the hand or foot brake instead of the clutch to hold the car still...

And how to be be civil to other folks that are trying to help, no offence, just general.

How to drive on ice/snow????

Not part of the test, but OOOOOOOOOOOOh so neccesary.

ozvaldinho

I would take the fact that the ABS is coming on as a warning that you are on the limit of the tyres' grip and that without it you would have locked up and maybe spun.

Alias_Omega

^^ Depends if it was icy underneath the snow or not.

I have good tyres, and if i brake hard enough the ABS begins to slam my foot.

Driving in ice / snowy conditions only gets better if you do it more often, and most people tend to not drive in the snow / ice so dont get any better at it.

I have to commute the 78mile (round trip, mainly down B roads) to work each day, be it snow/ice/rain/fog etc, and still be on time.

Experience brings me this, but most of it is good luck..

StaffsSW

ABS and snow or ice is not a good combination - the car can not tell the difference between all 4 wheels locked up on an icy surface, or if the car has come to a halt.

ABS needs some sort of traction to detect when wheels are sliding, but if there is no traction, then it can't work properly. On a skid pan last year we had a go with different vehicles in different situations. A guy in a 20 year old Sierra managed to stop quicker on a slick surface than my 2 month old Volvo.
It taught me that there is no better driver aid than a well trained driver!

I do not like the idea of becoming reliant on electronic/mechanical driving aids to keep me safe and in control. If one of those stopped working, would I know how to control the car without it?

ABS for example - it's taken for granted that in an emergency braking situation you can also steer around an obstacle. However, if the ABS fails, and you are in an emergency situation - how many people would know how to cadence the brakes whilst controlling a skid around the object?!

In fact - how many people know how to control a front or rear wheel skid..?

These last few days have also made me realise just how invaluable snow chains are, even if only needed for a few days per year. However, even though I may be in full control of my car, I can not guarantee that the same can be said for every other driver out there.

newlywed

harveybobbles wrote: »

I think that part of the driving test should be:

Learn how to jump start a car
Learn how to change a wheel
Learn how to control your car on a skid pan
Learn how to change a bulb
Learn how to check fluid levels
Learn how to use the hand or foot brake instead of the clutch to hold the car still...

I'd agree with most of that.

I actually had a lesson on emergency stops from 30 mph in the wet, wheel spins and how to react to them - and I loved it Instructor didn't seem too keen to repeat the lesson though

BillScarab

stevew8975 wrote: »

ABS and snow or ice is not a good combination - the car can not tell the difference between all 4 wheels locked up on an icy surface, or if the car has come to a halt.

ABS needs some sort of traction to detect when wheels are sliding, but if there is no traction, then it can't work properly. On a skid pan last year we had a go with different vehicles in different situations. A guy in a 20 year old Sierra managed to stop quicker on a slick surface than my 2 month old Volvo.
It taught me that there is no better driver aid than a well trained driver!

I do not like the idea of becoming reliant on electronic/mechanical driving aids to keep me safe and in control. If one of those stopped working, would I know how to control the car without it?

ABS for example - it's taken for granted that in an emergency braking situation you can also steer around an obstacle. However, if the ABS fails, and you are in an emergency situation - how many people would know how to cadence the brakes whilst controlling a skid around the object?!

In fact - how many people know how to control a front or rear wheel skid..?

These last few days have also made me realise just how invaluable snow chains are, even if only needed for a few days per year. However, even though I may be in full control of my car, I can not guarantee that the same can be said for every other driver out there.

Having learnt to drive many years ago in the days before ABS I can still remember how to cadence brake. I also used to be a dab hand at controlling skids in rear wheel drive cars. The problem is everything I drive nowadays is front wheel drive with lots of electronic aids so I'm very out of practice.

The scariest thing in ice and snow is watching the muppets in 4x4s who think they are somehow immune to the weather conditions. Still they soon learn when they try and brake.

harveybobbles

I was quite horrified at hopw bad a 4x4 is in snow and ice! I was broadside in some old 51 plate Mitsubishi Spudgun 3.1Diesel a few weeks back. Was quite surprised at how easy it was to slide!!