Before, during and immediately after - the best advice is to avoid driving altogether when severe winter weather strikes.
But, Christmas is a time for family, friends and travel.
So when you can't avoid the roads, make sure you're well prepared to drive them.
Pack a winter emergency kit in your car that includes all the essentials and brush up on your skills on how to steer your way out of a skid.
The tips could end up saving your life.
Driving in Ice and Snow
The best advice is to avoid driving altogether when a winter storm approaches.
But, if driving is necessary, follow these tips courtesy of AAA.com
See and Be Seen
• Clean all snow and ice from the entire vehicle - hood, roof, trunk, lights and window. Snow left on any of these areas increases the possibility that visibility will be affected when the car is in motion.
• Start your car and turn the heater on for a minute or two before using the defroster. This will prevent moisture from fogging the windshield when warm air hits the cold glass.
• To prevent damage to your wiper blades or wiper motor, be sure the wipers are off before starting the engine.
• Keep your speed low and headlights on low beam and allow plenty of braking room.
Tracking and Following
• Gentle pressure on the accelerator pedal when starting is the best method for retaining traction and avoiding skids—especially if your vehicle is not equipped with a traction-assist device.
• If your wheels start to spin, let up on the accelerator until traction returns.
• When approaching a hill, observe how other vehicles are reacting and keep far enough behind the vehicle immediately ahead so that you will not have to slow down or stop. This will allow you to maneuver around any stuck vehicles and to increase your speed (within reason) at or near the bottom of the hill to give you the extra momentum to carry you over the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down the hill as slowly as possible. Minimize brake use on very slippery, icy hills; if further speed reduction is needed, gentle, slow brake application (squeeze braking) is recommended to avoid locking the wheels and skidding.
• Normal dry pavement following distance (2 to 3 seconds) should be increased to 8 to 10 seconds when driving on icy, slippery surfaces. The extra distance allows for braking in case you have to stop.
Skidding
• Skids can best be avoided by anticipating lane changes, turns and curves; slowing down in advance; and by making smooth, precise movements of the steering wheel.
• If a skid should develop due to deteriorating road conditions and/or high speed, don't panic. Don't brake. Don't jerk the steering wheel.
Rear-wheel skids
1. Take your foot off the brake if the rear wheels skid due to hard or panic braking. Ease off the accelerator if the rear wheels lose traction due to hard acceleration.
2. De-clutch on a car with a manual transmission or shift to neutral (if you are certain of finding neutral immediately) on a car with automatic transmission.
3. Look and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go.
4. Just before the rear wheels stop skidding to the right or left, counter-steer until you are going in the desired direction.
5. In a rear-wheel drive vehicle, if you over-correct the first skid, be prepared for a rear-wheel skid in the opposite direction. Practice and the use of timely, gentle movement of the steering wheel are necessary to avoid this type of skid.
6. Once the vehicle is straight, release the clutch or shift to drive, apply gentle accelerator pressure so that the engine speed matches the road speed, and accelerate smoothly to a safe speed.
Front-wheel Skids
• Caused by hard braking or accelerating.
1. Take your foot off the brake if the front wheels skid due to hard or panic braking. Ease your foot off the accelerator if the front wheels lose traction due to hard acceleration.
2. De-clutch on a car with manual transmission, or shift to neutral (if you are certain of finding neutral immediately) on a car with automatic transmission.
3. If the front wheels have been turned prior to the loss of traction, don't move the steering wheel. Since the wheels are skidding sideways, a certain amount of braking force will be exerted. (Unwinding the steering wheel will reduce the steering angle and result in regaining steering sooner; however, the vehicle will be traveling faster because there is little sideways braking force. This technique should only be attempted in situations where limited space and sharp curves exist.)
4. Wait for the front wheels to grip the road again. As soon as traction returns the vehicle will start to steer again.
5. When the front wheels have regained their grip, steer the wheels gently in the desired direction of travel.
6. Release the clutch or shift to drive and apply gentle accelerator pressure so that the engine speed matches the road speed, and accelerate smoothly to a safe speed.
There is no risk at all of the car skidding in the opposite direction.
Four-wheel Skids
• Generally occurs when the vehicle is driven at a speed too fast for conditions. Here are three situations that often result in four-wheel skids: 1) you enter a curve that is wet or covered with ice, snow, sand, gravel or wet leaves; 2) you are driving down the road and cross a bridge covered with invisible ice, commonly referred to as "black ice"; 3) you are driving on a slippery straight road and apply the brakes too hard
1. Ease foot off the accelerator or take your foot off the brake.
2. De-clutch on a car with manual transmission or shift to neutral (if you are certain of finding neutral immediately) on a car with automatic transmission.
3. Look and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go.
4. Wait for the wheels to grip the road again. As soon as the wheels regain traction, the vehicle will travel in the desired direction.
5. Release the clutch or shift to drive and maintain a safe speed.
Braking
Without Antilock Brakes
• Use the heel-and-toe method. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use your toes to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal just short of lockup the point at which the wheels stop turning. You must keep your heel on the floor.
• If you accidentally lock the wheels, use toe-and-heel action to release brake pressure one or two degrees, then immediately reapply it with slightly less pressure.
With Antilock Brakes
• Use the heel-and-toe method but do not remove your foot from the brake if you feel your wheels lock momentarily. You will typically feel the brake pedal pulse back against your foot if this happens.
• When you pump the pedal or remove your foot from the brake, you are working against the antilock braking system.
Information courtesy of AAA
