Hey Buffalo (who just got pounded with a record 22+ inch early October snowfall)! This Bud's for you!Ah, the fun of winter driving will soon be upon us... So with that in mind, I present you a little refresher as to how to drive in the snow, thanks to the police from Anchorage. The police department there actually have an emergency vehicle winter driving test course for departmental training...
Since they've started putting officers through this winter driving program, they've found a decrease of 59% in winter-related accidents.
The test course is unique in that with the push of a button, an officer can change the hydraulics on the skid pan, simulating a rear skid, front skid or all-wheel skid. No matter the type of skid, one rule applies: let off the gas.
The test course is unique in that with the push of a button, an officer can change the hydraulics on the skid pan, simulating a rear skid, front skid or all-wheel skid. No matter the type of skid, one rule applies: let off the gas.
carlisimo says:
09:03 AM, 10/14/06
Are you sure 'let off the gas' always applies? Maybe it does for RWD, but I've recovered from fishtailing in my FWD Sentra by increasing the throttle. I think lifting gets a lot of people in trouble.
I can think of a few friends who've dodged someone on the freeway moving into their lane, and then 'overcorrected', oversteered, and veered off the freeway. I don't think they overcorrected with the steering, but they lifted or hit the brakes and that helped get the rear wheels loose.
Don't lift! Countersteer and stay on the gas!
estreka says:
12:58 PM, 10/15/06
We have a similar test up here in Montana for military members. It's an old Bronco with the rear end gutted out. A new rear end is in place with free-floating casters with what are essentially big shopping cart tires. While many of us are skeptical of the effect in relation to actual ice, it is tons of fun!
http://www.skidmonster.com/
billt9 says:
01:57 PM, 10/15/06
I thought the essential rule is don't hit the brakes.
ateixeira says:
11:31 AM, 10/16/06
In my Miata, if you let off the gas in the middle of a turn you will spill for sure. Ease off the gas, maybe, but I'd take other evasize actions first, like countersteering.