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Seasonal driving tips |
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Seasonal Driving
Tips - Icy or Snowy Roads
These seasonal driving tips are a good reminder that
driving at this time of year requires extra care.
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Slow down.
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Accelerate gently and steer smoothly.
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Carefully test your braking and steering at a
very slow speed.
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Allow extra space margins.
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Slow down before curves and corners.
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Go down icy hills in a low gear.
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Avoid passing.
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If your wheels lock, ease off the brakes then
re-apply them to maintain steering control.
How to handle a skid
You're driving straight and encounter a patch of
black ice.
The
rear of your vehicle skids to the right. Ease off
the accelerator and look and steer smoothly in the
direction you want to go. (In this case, steer to
the right.) Don't brake — this will make the
situation worse.
Now
the rear of your vehicle skids to the left.
Overcorrecting in Step 2 likely causes this. Stay
off the accelerator and steer smoothly in the
direction you want to go. (In this case, steer to
the left.) Repeat Steps 2 and 3, if necessary, until
you regain control.
Once
you have regained control, proceed with caution.
Hidden dangers at zero degrees
Hidden dangers include:
Black ice. Normally, you can't see black ice.
However, if the pavement looks shiny and black
instead of grey-white, be suspicious.
Shaded areas.
Bridges and overpasses. Ice tends to form on them
before it does elsewhere.
Intersections. Car exhaust and packed snow cause
intersections to ice up quickly.
Turn off your cruise control
When
the road is slippery, turn off your cruise control
system. Snow, ice, slush or even rain can cause
wheel-spin and loss of control.
The
only way to stop this wheel-spin and maintain
control is to immediately reduce power. However, an
activated cruise control system will continue to
apply power, keeping the wheels spinning. By the
time you disengage the cruise control, you may have
lost control.
When you're stuck in the snow
If
you have the misfortune of getting stuck in snow,
you must first assess the situation. Get out of your
vehicle while being very aware of the traffic around
you. Determine if you can get your vehicle unstuck
on your own or if you will require assistance.
If attempting on your own:
Clean snow away from the drive wheels.
If
possible, enhance the traction to the drive wheels
by using traction mats, old carpets, salt, sand or
kitty litter spread along in the direction of the
drive route you plan to use.
Make
sure the way is clear and accelerate the vehicle
gently. (Do not gun the accelerator causing the
tires to spin rapidly).
If
this doesn't work, you may want to gently rock the
vehicle back and forth by shifting from forward to
reverse, gradually increasing the distance travelled
with each rock.
Note: Check your owner's manual prior to
beginning this procedure. If the instructions are
different, follow the steps outlined in your manual.
Courtesy
ICBC
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