MOUNTAIN SAFETY: DRIVING ON SNOW |
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Check the latest mountain weather reports |
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| This is probably both the most idiot and the most useful piece of advice we can give you... |
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Winter equipment : snow chains |
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| Stay clear of the cheap snow chains as these modes don't give your car lateral traction on snow , they're dangerous - incidentally selling them will soon be illegal ! Don't forget snow chains are useless on icy roads.... |
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Winter equipment: specific snow tires |
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| Certain tire models are optimized for driving on snow. Keep that in mind, especially when you're putting them on your vehicle and when you're parking on a slope. |
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The road is dry but... |
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| It's so nice out you've almost forgotten it's winter, you have fun skiing, the snow on the road has melted, and you're really looking forward to a glass of mulled wine by the fire.... Watch out for the treacherous black ice and patches of snow that lingered on the road in shady spots... |
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How do I get out of my parking spot? |
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It snowed all night, the sun is shining, you're itching to go skiing or snowboarding but your car is stuck in the snow. Try to move back and forth your car. The pendulum movement should help it exit the rut it's in (a usually pretty effective method).
If you have to park in a slope, park so that the drive wheels are facing down: by bearing a bigger part of the vehicle's weight, they will have better adherence.
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Driving |
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Check the road's state, by getting out of your car if deemed necessary. You can also check your tires' grip by briefly braking in an unobstructed area.
Be particularly wary of rain on a cold road and of melting snow.
In case of emergency, know how to control your braking. In such cases, what matters most is that your tires still have a grip on the road to avoid skidding and loosing control of your vehicle. It's often preferable to avoid braking entirely (which means good reflexes) and go around the obstacle.
Preferably use your engine brake.
Anticipate tackling bends. If the car loses grip at the rear, slowly to regain grip. |
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Check your speed |
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A warning concerning the 4x4: they make it easier to go up slopes but, as they're heavier, they suffer from greater inertness on the way down.
Wide tires, despite what one might think, put the car at a disadvantage when driving in the snow. They spread the weight of the vehicle on a larger surface and therefore skid more...
Along the same lines, vehicles with engines (which make up a fairly big part of the vehicle's weight) that aren't located above the drive wheels are slightly more at disadvantage on snow.
The ideal car for driving on snow : the Ladybug (2CV). Nice and light, with narrow tires, it can climb any slope, no matter the weather...
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