ALT-1 Winter Driving
Winter brings with it a number of challenges, no less the challenge of having to drive on roads which force the vehicle to behave very differently.As the controller of the vehicle, a driver needs to consider the obvious, which is to maintain slower speeds, and then examine his/her own abilities when confronted with challenging conditions. We also need to research our own vehicle traits.Do we have a front or rear drive vehicle?Are our tyres wide or narrow gauge, and perhaps most important of all; have we had any experience in driving in icy conditions.Each point needs expanding, as each is important when considering the key consideration; the safety of the occupants of his/her own car, and the safety of other road users.A front wheel drive vehicle will behave very differently on an icy road.If a front wheel drive vehicle strikes an icy patch, it has a better traction potential, simply because the bulk of the vehicle weight sits above the tyre. The engine and front suspension will help as, soon as an available patch of dry road is present, traction becomes available. With a rear wheel drive vehicle, there is less weight, and a totally different method in handling, simply because, it is the rear of the vehicle that may react first under accelerating conditions.During a skid, in a front wheel drive vehicle, you turn the steering towards the frontal movement of the wheels, whereas in a rear wheel drive vehicle, you turn the vehicle towards the rear swing of the vehicle.Breaks, are always a no-no in either vehicle, and it is important to travel in as higher gear as is possible. The whole object of a driving exercise is to keep the vehicle stable, and stability is initiated with not using lower gears, and not using breaks.Excluding chains and other accessories which may become part of our ice driving artillery, it is good practice to drive with tyres that are as narrow as possible. The wider the tyre, the greater the road spread, the more the skid potential. While wide tyres are better on dry roads, they do create a reverse situation on icy roads.So, where does all this lead the potential driver who is confronted with a sudden freeze? It's all very well talking about the do's and don'ts when we have a limited budget, and/or are suddenly caught with the horror of ice, especially the black variety. Very simply, keep the speed down, keep the foot off the accelerator, keep the gears as high as possible, follow the direction of the vehicle movement with your steering wheel, and most important of all, never, but never, touch the breaks!
Winter brings with it a number of challenges, no less the challenge of having to drive on roads which force the vehicle to behave very differently.
As the controller of the vehicle, a driver needs to consider the obvious, which is to maintain slower speeds, and then examine his/her own abilities when confronted with challenging conditions. We also need to research our own vehicle traits.
Do we have a front or rear drive vehicle?
Are our tyres wide or narrow gauge, and perhaps most important of all; have we had any experience in driving in icy conditions.
Each point needs expanding, as each is important when considering the key consideration; the safety of the occupants of his/her own car, and the safety of other road users.
A front wheel drive vehicle will behave very differently on an icy road.
If a front wheel drive vehicle strikes an icy patch, it has a better traction potential, simply because the bulk of the vehicle weight sits above the tyre. The engine and front suspension will help as, soon as an available patch of dry road is present, traction becomes available. With a rear wheel drive vehicle, there is less weight, and a totally different method in handling, simply because, it is the rear of the vehicle that may react first under accelerating conditions.
During a skid, in a front wheel drive vehicle, you turn the steering towards the frontal movement of the wheels, whereas in a rear wheel drive vehicle, you turn the vehicle towards the rear swing of the vehicle.
Breaks, are always a no-no in either vehicle, and it is important to travel in as higher gear as is possible. The whole object of a driving exercise is to keep the vehicle stable, and stability is initiated with not using lower gears, and not using breaks.
Excluding chains and other accessories which may become part of our ice driving artillery, it is good practice to drive with tyres that are as narrow as possible. The wider the tyre, the greater the road spread, the more the skid potential. While wide tyres are better on dry roads, they do create a reverse situation on icy roads.
So, where does all this lead the potential driver who is confronted with a sudden freeze? It's all very well talking about the do's and don'ts when we have a limited budget, and/or are suddenly caught with the horror of ice, especially the black variety. Very simply, keep the speed down, keep the foot off the accelerator, keep the gears as high as possible, follow the direction of the vehicle movement with your steering wheel, and most important of all, never, but never, touch the breaks!
