Correct ways to drive in the snow and ice

[billski]

I don't know about you, but I'm weary of our collective complaining about drivers. I'm as guilty as anyone.
We've beaten the equipment to death (a-la snow tires) so let's move on.

Let's contribute to a thread about the CORRECT WAY to drive in the snow and ice.

For example, I see a lot of people approach icy and snowy turns in the road with way too much speed.

So let's set the bar high and begin to explain the best way to navigate icy and snowy roads

 

[deadheadskier]

um, have decent tires and drive at an appropriate rate of speed for the conditions and what your vehicle can handle?

seems pretty simple to me

 

[wa-loaf]

For example, I see a lot of people approach icy and snowy turns in the road with way too much speed.

How else are you going to get a good skid going?

 

[bvibert]

How else are you going to get a good skid going?

This

 

[Nick]

Snow + E-brake = awesome

 

[drjeff]

How else are you going to get a good skid going?

Exactly! I mean doesn't everyone have the drifting skills of say Ken Block or Tanner Faust, especially while they're driving say a Prius?? :lol:

 

[bvibert]

Snow + E-brake = awesome

Snow + rear wheel drive = even awesomer! (as long as you're not trying to go up hill).

 

[billski]

I have a hard time agreeing with this. While braking is good, it's the process and timing that seems lost on many people. Too many people brake IN the curve. Slow down before the curve, then slightly accelerate to maintain traction.

Nick, what is "E-brake"? Sounds expensive.

 

[Black Phantom]

I have a hard time agreeing with this. While braking is good, it's the process and timing that seems lost on many people. Too many people brake IN the curve. Slow down before the curve, then slightly accelerate to maintain traction.

Nick, what is "E-brake"? Sounds expensive.

billski- you should start driving with a helmet and you should wear a mouth guard at all times.

E-brake = emergency brake

 

[wa-loaf]

Snow + rear wheel drive = even awesomer! (as long as you're not trying to go up hill).

If I give it enough gas I can get the rear end of the subaru to break loose ... and get up the hills.

 

[wa-loaf]

I have a hard time agreeing with this. While braking is good, it's the process and timing that seems lost on many people. Too many people brake IN the curve. Slow down before the curve, then slightly accelerate to maintain traction.

Nick, what is "E-brake"? Sounds expensive.

I think you're gong to have a hard time getting us to take this thread seriously. :-D

 

[Glenn]

I like empty parking lots in the snow. Just ask drjeff. :lol: We all took a little detour on the way back to his condo. "Jeff, hold on...I need to do a few donuts before dinner..."

 

[drjeff]

I have a hard time agreeing with this. While braking is good, it's the process and timing that seems lost on many people. Too many people brake IN the curve. Slow down before the curve, then slightly accelerate to maintain traction.
.

Bingo! Frankly the way one should "set up" a turn while driving a car isn't that much different than how one set's up a turn while skiing. Any slowing should occur as the prior to the start/at the start of the turn, roll it smoothly through the center and then begin to accelerate out of the corner and start preparing for the next turn.

If you watch how race car drivers handle a road course (or heck even an oval) and how ski racers handle a course (especially a GS and higher speed events) there's LOTS of similarity in how they go about executing a turn

 

[Nick]

Can we fix the title of this thread to put "drive" into it ? :lol:

 

[drjeff]

I like empty parking lots in the snow. Just ask drjeff. :lol: We all took a little detour on the way back to his condo. "Jeff, hold on...I need to do a few donuts before dinner..."

Okay, I was wondering if it was that time last year, or a couple of weeks ago on my birthday when I was behind you in my car as we were going from the base lodge down to the Last Chair and you started doing slalom turns around the parking lot poles and then did the peel out (or maybe a peel in in this case) heading into the LC parking lot and covered my hood/windshield :lol:

 

[Black Phantom]

In the butt Bob

 

[bvibert]

If I give it enough gas I can get the rear end of the subaru to break loose ... and get up the hills.

Sounds sweet! 8)

 

[bvibert]

I like empty parking lots in the snow. Just ask drjeff. :lol: We all took a little detour on the way back to his condo. "Jeff, hold on...I need to do a few donuts before dinner..."

I've spent over an hour doing donuts in the parking lot at work during a snow storm. Good times! That was before I got back into skiing...

 

[o3jeff]

Maybe we can have a doughnut contest at the AZ summit this year in a snowy lot.

 

[Nick]

When I was in high school in Manchester, CT I actually got a reckless driving ticket (I was 17) for doing donuts (well, e-brake slides) in a parking lot after a snow storm at 10PM.

No, there were no other cars in the parking lot, or at least not in the section we were in.

Cost me over $300 in court plus points on a license. Jerk. I tried to tell the cop I was learning how to drive in the snow