There’s a huge difference between driving in light, normal or heavy snowfall, and that’s before you add in the wind speed and temperature range and the duration.
It’s perfectly normal to drive at highway speed through a light or normal snowfall if the road is clear. What’s important is to know when to slowdown.
There are no hard rules unfortunately, and the best I can tell you is to drive a bit slower than you think would be safe, and that if you at any time feel the wheels lose their grip then you are going way to fast.
If that happens then take your foot of the accelerator and slow down carefully. But if you really need to stop then step on that break as hard as you can and pray that the gods of ABS will allow you to maintain control.
Do not try to pump the brakes or balance on the edge of locking up as that will most likely either have the car spin out of control or take at least twice the distance to stop. Those techniques only works if you train a lot, much more than what most people would be prepared to do, and even then most professional drivers would rather rely on the ABS if they really have to stop NOW. The possible gains are rather small and the possible losses are huge…
As a addition to the good Captain’s comment, when I was learning how to drive, my teacher taught me to “Be The Tortoise” in snow. Slow and steady will win the race, while the hares will end up in the ditch, if they are lucky.
It really does depend on the weather. If it’s snowing, and below about 20F (-5C or so), and the ground is cold and not icy, a light snow gives a nice show, but doesn’t stick, so – apart from pillow drifts – driving is fine. OTOH, if it’s a blizzard, stay home anyway, or drive very carefully.
BTW, there is a measurable difference when driving in snowy or icy conditions with 4-wheel drive: you get stuck in a deeper drift.
Oh, Tina!
a better example of Taoism I have not seen in a while.
Tina is adorable. I want one of her
There’s no such thing as one of her. And I’m pretty sure she’s only this delightful in full chorus.
I love watching snow fall from that angle. It sometimes feels like you’re rising up towards the sky, and each flake is a star going past you.
If you drive fast through falling snow you feel like being on warp speed…
If you drive fast through falling snow it means you’re potentially suicidal and should have your license revoked =)
There’s a huge difference between driving in light, normal or heavy snowfall, and that’s before you add in the wind speed and temperature range and the duration.
It’s perfectly normal to drive at highway speed through a light or normal snowfall if the road is clear. What’s important is to know when to slowdown.
There are no hard rules unfortunately, and the best I can tell you is to drive a bit slower than you think would be safe, and that if you at any time feel the wheels lose their grip then you are going way to fast.
If that happens then take your foot of the accelerator and slow down carefully. But if you really need to stop then step on that break as hard as you can and pray that the gods of ABS will allow you to maintain control.
Do not try to pump the brakes or balance on the edge of locking up as that will most likely either have the car spin out of control or take at least twice the distance to stop. Those techniques only works if you train a lot, much more than what most people would be prepared to do, and even then most professional drivers would rather rely on the ABS if they really have to stop NOW. The possible gains are rather small and the possible losses are huge…
As a addition to the good Captain’s comment, when I was learning how to drive, my teacher taught me to “Be The Tortoise” in snow. Slow and steady will win the race, while the hares will end up in the ditch, if they are lucky.
It really does depend on the weather. If it’s snowing, and below about 20F (-5C or so), and the ground is cold and not icy, a light snow gives a nice show, but doesn’t stick, so – apart from pillow drifts – driving is fine. OTOH, if it’s a blizzard, stay home anyway, or drive very carefully.
BTW, there is a measurable difference when driving in snowy or icy conditions with 4-wheel drive: you get stuck in a deeper drift.