[ale] OT: Driving in snow...

[tfreeman at intel.digichem.net]

On Wed, 1 Dec 2004, Christopher Bergeron wrote:

> Speaking of which, I'm going to Mass. for an X-Mas party in a few 
> weeks.  I'm going to be driving a rental car into Mass from CT. and I 
> was wondering if Rental Cars up there have chains in the trunk and/or 
> snow tires. 
> 
> I've driven in snow here in ATL, but never in real snow like up in New 
> England.
> 
> Anyone have any pointers?

Some excellent pointers already, and a lot of it may be something related 
to good driving in the first place.

All the usual disclaimers apply, as these are really only my own training.

Keep your windows clear. Period. What you don't see can hurt you. If you 
can see it, you might have a chance. You will see some people with a 
little spot cleared on their windshield to see through, and I beleive them 
to be idiots. If the car insists on fogging up - drop the windows or 
possibly get off the road. Keep the windshield washer fluid topped up, and 
replace wiper blades if they seem the least bit worn (not terribly likely 
on a rental). Your ability to see, and see clearly, is a necessary but not 
sufficient requirement to plan ahead. 

Get the snow off the car before moving, as noted by somebody else. Nobody 
needs the distraction of being hit with a roof load of snow.

Don't leave the car idleing to "warm up" while you wait inside. The car 
drives off perfectly well without heat in the passenger comparment and 
somebody else at the wheel. (That really should be in the "Duh!" category)

_If_ you find yourself in snow, and see someplace to practice like a 
parking lot, I'd go for it gently. Better to be familiar with the feel of 
the car as it gets close to out-of-control ahead of time, and some feel 
for getting back under control. Nothing like cutting 30 miles of donuts, 
but a few hard, or even near panic braking attempts to know how the car 
wants to react. 

Start slow, break slow, follow at a distance, and generally take your 
time. Until ice gets down below 20 degrees F or so, you don't want to 
change anything while you are on it. Since you may not know, take it easy.
(OTOH, ice below -10 or so seems to be a pretty good, dry pavement. Doubt 
you will see those sorts of temperatures tho...) Sudden changes are what 
cause much loss of control, so plan ahead. The concept of "sudden changes" 
on some bridge decks in some weather seems to include any change, so drive 
relaxed, and smoothly by policy.

As an aside: my graduate advisor was driving my car (I was tired) to a 
conference when he found an icy patch in the middle of Pennsylvania. We 
did a few 360's before we got settled back down. Nothing quite like waking 
up going backwards at expressway speeds! However, the point of the story 
is that there can be treachery on the road. You want to prepare in depth, 
in advance.

Steer into a skid/slid. Again, something which takes practice.

I have seen too many people feel that they can turn horsepower into 
effective traction. Not going to happen. Another error often made is that 
just because you can get the car into motion, you can get through what is 
ahead. Sometimes they get stopped by hitting something bigger and more 
solid than their car. My personal feeling (not that I always followed it) 
is to get off the road as soon as you entertain doubts as to your ability 
to stop in a hurry, or the car starts making unplanned movements. Better 
yet, quit driving about 10 miles earlier.

I've pontificated too much, perhaps sounded much too dire. I find snow 
driving frequently rather fun for limited periods of time, as the driver 
must pay attention, must have some skills in hand, and is often a great 
training experience.

I'll wish you a wonderful trip. And should it snow on you on the highway, 
hopefully you can relax, and let conditions teach you a thing or two about 
your driving.

> 
> 
> -CB
> 
> tfreeman at intel.digichem.net wrote:
> 
> >On Wed, 1 Dec 2004, Brian J. Dowd wrote:
> >
> >  
> >
> >>This ex-Bostonian says:
> >>New Englanders have inherent advantages:
> >>snowtires (or studs or chains)
> >>[on their tires not on their bodies...]
> >>and well sanded roads.
> >>Otherwise "equal abilities".
> >>-Brian
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >Point taken, although I don't think it fully explains the situation. FWIW, 
> >in six years of winter driving in NE, and another in Ohio, I have yet to 
> >purchase snow tires, or studs. A friend of mine gave me chains once, but I 
> >lost them the first time I used them.
> >
> >As to well sanded/salted roads, the roads aren't generally prepared ahead 
> >of the snow, yet you don't see as much craziness at the beginning of a 
> >snow in the NE as you do in this region.
> >
> >
> >  
> >
> >>>On Wed, 1 Dec 2004, Geoffrey wrote:
> >>>
> >>> 
> >>>
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>>>Jason Fritcher wrote:
> >>>>   
> >>>>
> >>>>        
> >>>>
> >>>>>Dow Hurst wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>     
> >>>>>
> >>>>>          
> >>>>>
> >>>>>>Jason,
> >>>>>>Welcome to the ALE group!
> >>>>>>       
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>            
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>Thanks! :)
> >>>>>     
> >>>>>
> >>>>>          
> >>>>>
> >>><<snip linux and reasonable stuff>>
> >>> 
> >>>
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>>>Yeah, wait till the first snow and you see on these idiots on the road. 
> >>>>   I've never understood that since probably 50% of Atlanta consists of 
> >>>>relocated Yankees, like myself.
> >>>>
> >>>>   
> >>>>
> >>>>        
> >>>>
> >>>I've kinda noticed that myself - although I'm up in Charlotte. "Up here" 
> >>>(where the heck is "Up" anyway?), I think we have similar rates of bumper 
> >>>cars during a good rain as Boston has for the first snow, based upon 
> >>>living in New England twenty odd years ago. During a snow storm, go over 
> >>>to a resturant on a busy corner, get something warm, and _watch_ the 
> >>>locals sliding through the intersection. Them as are walking, seem to fall 
> >>>down a lot. Great entertainment for the sadistically inclined...
> >>>
> >>>As to reasons; I've got some guesses and no idea how to test them. I do 
> >>>think many times the Atlanta/Charlotte/southeastern snow fall is somewhat 
> >>>slipryer(sp?) than many northern locations because the ground is much 
> >>>closer to freezing, and the snow tends to be wetter. Also, low traction 
> >>>driving seems to need regular practice - once or twice every year or two 
> >>>just isn't sufficient practice. The arrogance of "I come from the north 
> >>>and I understand snow driving" plays a part of it also. And finally, I 
> >>>suspect most drivers are in too much of a hurry to stop and think, or even 
> >>>to leave space ahead to stop.
> >>>
> >>>YMMV of course
> >>>
> >>> 
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> 
> >>>
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>Ale mailing list
> >>Ale at ale.org
> >>http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> >>
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >  
> >
> 
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