Cars, During winter conditions |
Your car is more likely to skid during winter conditions, such as a snow-or ice-covered road. It's important to drive especially carefully during these times, to avoid your car skidding. First, slow down substantially; secondly, you should gently apply the brakes to prevent wheels from locking and finally you should increase your estimated stopping distance by up to ten times what it normally would be.
If you're driving a car during a wintry evening, watch out for ice that may be forming on the road. This can happen even if the sky looks to be clear, so the best sign is to look at the windows of parked cars. If there's ice, it will be forming on the road. Extra caution should be applied when you're on an exposed road, such as a bridge. Keeping an eye on your car's thermometer (if it has one) will help you in this.
Rain is especially dangerous to a car when it's freezing. This can form what's called 'black ice' - ice that doesn't look like ice, but it's transparent so drivers of cars can't see it and think the roads are safe.
Another sign is that your steering starts to seem easier, and the noise given by your car's tires will seem less. Part of the reason for this is the decreased traction between the tire and the roadway, which can lead to a skid or a spin. The best way to counter a possible skid is to slowly remove your foot from the car's accelerator to let the car slow down smoothly and softly. It's best to pull over to the side of the road and stop driving until the ice melts, but if you can't do this, drive slowly in the highest gear possible. This helps to keep your car from getting to a fast start, which could cause the wheels to spin.
Braking hard on a slippery road will make your car go out of control, because the wheels will lock completely and you get no braking power buit continue at the same speed as if you hadn't even pressed your brake pedal. Also, you won't be able to steer.Your wheels can lock up and you will continue onwards with little or no braking effect. To stop your car from losing control in this situation, release the brake to free up your wheels, then brake again more softly. Newer cars have ABS, or anti-lock brake systems, but it doesn't act as a substitute for a safe driving habit.
To steer properly, if your car is going straight ahead despite you turning the wheel, ease off the accelerator. This causes the car's weight to move forward, pressing the front tires against the road more firmly - under no circumstances do you brake the car. Once you feel the tires take grip, always steer in the direction you're skidding. This also applies in a hydroplane situation - and make sure to steer the car quickly but smoothly. |
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