Driving in winter can be nasty business
By Contributor
Courtesy BCAA
The snow has been flying throughout Canada (well, maybe except the Kootenays) and with the white stuff comes that awful and dangerou
With winter, the tire people remind us come a long list of nasty surprises for unwary drivers.
“Black ice, loss of control, other drivers, and bad weather are the four major fears identified by Canadians in a recent Michelin survey,” notes the release.
Normally, I’d be reluctant to give a free plug to a big company, but Michelin has put together a pretty good Web site to help drivers cope with winter driving.
What sets this site apart is a big cache of video and animated demonstrations. The visual aids are user-friendly and generally entertaining.
Black ice: slow down, but do not slam on the brakes. Gently brake using the threshold technique.
On very slippery roads, if drivers feel the vehicle is pulling at an angle towards a snow bank, shift into neutral gear. This manoeuvre will help you keep your car headed in the right direction.
Loss of control: focus on where you’re headed.
Professionals would remind us to keep the foot on the brake until the car comes to a complete stop. Remain calm and manoeuvre your car out of the way to avoid any danger of being hit by approaching vehicles.”
Other drivers: keep your distance.
Whether the road is icy, wet, or snow-covered, all responsible drivers will drive defensively, slow down, and keep an even longer distance than usual from the vehicle in front.
The uncertainties of winter driving: prepare for the worst.
Get into the habit of checking weather conditions before setting off, prepare an emergency kit, remove all the snow from the vehicle, etcetera. These tips may seem simple, but they can really make all the difference..
