DIY Network

Winter Driving Tips From "Auto Primer" episode DAPR-106

There's no doubt that driving in winter-weather conditions is more risky than ordinary driving. In this special winter edition of DIY's Auto Primer, host Leilani Munter offers tips on winter-driving and safety.

Below are some things to consider before you venture out on the snow and ice.

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• Is it worth it? Your risk of an accident when driving on slick roads is three times that encountered in normal driving conditions. Before driving in snow or ice, consider carefully if the trip is worth it. If you can delay your trip until the roads are clear, you may avoid a potential accident.

• Vision safety. Before driving, make certain to clear snow and ice from the windshield, roof and mirrors. Defrost the windows and clear snow from the headlights and taillights.

• Drive slowly. On a slick road, it may take up to ten times longer to stop than it would on a dry road.

• Know the "physics of slippery." When driving on slippery surfaces, the effects of certain driving characteristics are magnified, and there are some critical differences from driving in normal conditions. For example:
  Acceleration causes the front of the car to rise, transferring some of the weight to the rear wheels. The result is better traction for the rear wheels. On snow or ice, however, your vehicle may not respond quickly to steering-wheel movement.

  Deceleration causes a weight shift to the front wheels and provides increased traction up front. The result is that the car will be relatively more responsive to steering-wheel movements.

  By learning to control the weight of your car, you can create greater or lesser traction on the desired wheels, making it easier to maintain or regain control.

• Steering through a curve. If you feel the rear end of your car begin to spin out as you round a curve, gently accelerate to transfer the weight back to the rear wheels. At this point, it's critical that you don't panic and avoid steering wildly. Steer in the same direction that the rear end is sliding. Look forward, down the road in the direction that you want the car to go. Over-steer occurs most commonly in front-wheel drive vehicles, but rear-wheel drive cars may over-steer if the rear wheels begin to spin. In this case, "feather" the gas pedal until you feel the rear wheels grab.

RESOURCES :

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Trouble-Free Car Care
Author: Dan Ramsey
ISBN: 0028635833
Alpha Books

Auto Repair for Dummies
Author: Deanna Sclar
ISBN: 0764550896