driving in snow

DKLS

Lirin wrote: »

DKLS- would have loved to do one of those courses, they look amazing fun!

It really was beneficial, its only the last year that I have seen decent snow, we always had it when I was a kid, and I believe that believe that a lot of people have lost teh skills to drive on snow or simply it hasnt been around for people to gain experience.

We had the sensible road driving course, and the full on nutter course on the lake, where we were frozen silly but wore the biggest grins.

I now understand why the Finns are so good at motorsport!
One of our instructors was 16 years old!!, and he gave us a demo on a woodland track, his car control was a delight to see, the way he power slid round corners at 90mph inches away from fir trees was both sublime and terrifying.

It wouldnt surprise me If he was signed up for the WRC.

bigjl

I also drive in as high a gear as possible to reduce wheelspin, and keep it smooth, no jerky steering inputs, don't brake or accelerate harshly as you will just lose grip, and check your tyes as if they are well worn you won't have much in the way of grip compared to a newer set of tyres.

The London Ambulance Service has fitted winter tyres for the first timw ever this year and will do so from Oct to Apr from now on after request from staff.

I personally enjoyed driving in the snow, though a lot of the folk around East London where unable to negotiate hills, they seemed to think that any reduction in speed meant giving it a bootfull of throttle, which resulted in them getting stuck, RWD cars spinning etc.

I never got stuck once though a few vehicles where crashed, strangely enough by the younger members of staff, and none of the accidents involved people that grew up in Scotland, Ireland or any proper rural areas in England.

I like to think we grow them better in the sticks but I think the true reason is experience, for example I used to drive 200 miles in Snow to get to Uni in Dundee, in a Skoda Estelle with backs of stones under the "front bonnet".

I also remember when I was still a learner my dad getting me to drive most of the way back from Glasgow, when the gearbox started to get heavy due to the snow making the oil thick was a new experience, after looking under the bonnet the engine bay was full of snow, never seen that since, almost certainly a good reason for the introduction of undertrays!

maxheadroom

Fitted winter tyres last year on advice of a hungarian colleague, (second hand set off ebay with sett of cheep wheels off ebay as wasn't totally convinced) difference was amazing even in the wet. Always going to be fitted now Nov to April.

Any way see you have said its not an option but may be worth a look on ebay as you may be surprised.

Anyway echo much of the above advice but keep more bits in the car, prepare as if you were going to walk in the snow

I would add to the list
Few pairs of socks to keep your feet warm in boots (wellies are freezing in snow)
Waterproof trousers and a pair of trackie bottoms to go over your usual clothes.
Decent waterproof winter jacket
Hat and gloves

Old strips of carpet are handy to put under wheels if their realy slipping and your stuck (woven back not foam)

And a high viz waistcoat/jacket if you have to get out to walk, put carpet under the wheels etc its nice for other motorists to be able to see you!

vaio

101 wrote: »

Go as fast as you can, the faster you go the quicker you get indoors in the warm

Yep, but to do that you need winter tyres and the OP can't afford them.

OP..... don't forget that whilst you are on winter tyres your summer ones are not wearing away so they last longer and the actual extra cost is not much over a couple of years.

Not much help if you are skint now but part worn sets of 4 are on ebay for under £100 and that's way cheaper than fixing you car if you slide into a ditch

thescouselander

Just a further thought - if your car has ESP/Traction control and you are on a slippy surface you may find you have to turn the ESP/Traction control off in order to get going other wise the car might apply the brakes as the wheels spin.


Also note its probebly best to turn it back on again once you're moving.

Lirin

Bigjl- forgot about that, we used to use 2x4's over the suspension to help with hills! Helped balabce the car going down- she didnt slide as much...

\diff lock's handy to a point in a Landy.

gingerdad

It may be useful for your company to have a plan for staff to get to sites, I am part of a rescue team and we worked with a couple of local care homes during the snow last winter to ensure there staff got in okay.

There is an orginasition called 4x4 Response which can proivide 4x4s and trained drivers to assist in serve weather or if its critical Mountain Resue and teams like ourselves help out where possible, but mainly in support of the ambulance service.

GD

skiddlydiddly

Most stuff has been covered so not much to add.If you have to park on a hill, turn around facing the direction you wish to leave in and then park as its much easier to do it with momentum behind you.Also park with your wheels turned in towards the curb so that if your car does slide then the curb will most likely stop it going any further.Also park in gear, so bith ends of the car will help stop it sliding.

Give way to people coming up the hill if you are going down as you have gravity to help you set off again and
they don't.

Park where someone has been previously and put your driven wheels on the clear patch, makes setting off easier.

For the love of god make sure your windscreen is totally clear of ice/snow before setting off.I see too many idiots peering through a 12" porthole while driving.

frothey

101 wrote: »

Go as fast as you can, the faster you go the quicker you get indoors in the warm

Fire up the Quattro..... :rotfl:

Someone mentioned letting pressure out of the tyres - this could close up the tread pattern and make the tyres act like ski's. Ok on ice, but in "loose" snow you want the tyres to cut through the snow and clear the tread. that's why proper snow wheels are narrow ones.

Paul_the_Painter

Tomorrow morning, get in your car and convince yourself that you can pull away and even change up to 2nd/3rd gear WITHOUT touching the throttle in your car. In my previous Fiat van, I could comfortably get up to 25mph without using any throttle at all, or unduly labouring the engine.

This will help immensly when the snow hits, you want to use as little power as possible at all times in the snow.

3 years ago we had a brief bad spell of ice/snow here in Milton Keynes, and a chap got stuck in the block paved car park of our local Co-Op in his BMW M3. After explaining a number of times to him to "Don't touch the throttle!" gave up and drove it out myself. He'd been sliding all over a couple of spaces and making no progress, I just drove it out without the wheels slipping at all - just a matter of technique.

Look WELL ahead of you on the road, let off the throttle and coast in gear until revs have dropped right down to around 1000-1500 rpm, then change gear to the next one down - smoothly.

In addition to the above, the technique for driving on snow/ice is very similar to the techniquie for driving with the maximum fuel efficiency - when you are coasting in gear, you are not using any diesel! See any use of the brakes as costing you money, and a defeat.

Final point - ignore the fuel "wastage" of getting your car warm before setting off. It's a rare time we have really bad weather, and the environment and your pocket are just going to have to take the hit. Start your car, then clean all the snow off (a broom for the bulk of it) then get a cup of tea/coffee and sit in the car for 5-10mins have a relaxing few mins having your morning coffee and listening to the radio. Don't set off until you have finished your coffee! By this time the car should be nicely warm and your windows nice and clear.

Last Last thing - make sure your windscreen washer fluid is topped up with the correct ration of fluid:water, and keep your fuel tank at least 1/2 full - you don't want to be running out if you get stuck somewhere.