The Dogmother Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 I wish more people paid attention to this! Some good tips there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Very handy. I didn't know about 2nd gear, but have always been fine in first - will keep it in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Some very good advice there. I can't drive, but I shall bring this to hubbys attention. Did you see this http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8443887.stm ? It was at the bottom of the page. Lots of lovely photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Thanks for the link. I don't understand the 2nd gear bit though I must admit - how does that work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 It keeps the engine revs down so the wheels don't spin so fast - you stand more chance of getting a grip like that. I always pull off in 2nd when it's icy. Then get into the highest gear you can without stalling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Even use third gear if you can - some cars won't let you but some will. Taking your foot off the throttle is the correct advice for a front wheel drive car, but may make a skid worse in a rear wheel drive car - you may need a little throttle to match the speed of the drive wheels to the movement on the road to regain grip. It takes a lot of practice to do this, mind! Since most cars are front wheel drive, this is generally good advice. A modern 4 x 4 without manually-selectable drive usually has most drive through front wheels with only a little through the rear - this rear component increases if the front wheels start to skid. It depends on the system, but generally taking the foot off the throttle to start with (while it is in front wheel drive) then putting on a little bit as it starts to grip through the rear wheels will be better than no throttle at all. It is all a question of practice and feel. The most important of that advice is not to go out dressed as for indoors - you must take survival stuff in this weather. The kind of temperatures we are going to get tonight are seriously cold! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 2nd gear ALWAYS - it does work as slows the spin of the wheels. Also, OH has told me when driving an automatic, when going downhill knock it into manual and select 1st gear, it will slow you down without having to brake. I cannot beleive the speedsters out today - even though roads appeared clear, there would suddenly be a large patch of ice/sludge - how do they expect to control a car when they hit that Also, if you know your route - slow down well before junctions and roundabouts - instead of braking as normal. Oh - forgot to add - make sure ALL snow is off the roof of the car - if you do suddenly slow down, it all slides down onto the windscreen and totally obscures your veiw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Some really good advice there, and in the posts above. I was told the '2nd gear' tip by my driving instructor many years ago. I managed to drive to Yorkshire and back at Christmas without too many problems, but then got stuck dropping my niece at her BFs home on a side road - the surface was like glass, I tried to turn the car so I didn't have to go down it any further, and got stuck at 90 degrees across the road. Luckily a friend had given me some rock salt to carry in the car. A handful - literally - behind each of the front wheels was enough to give me sufficient traction to move the car again. I'm never travelling without it again! The sand/cat litter is a good idea though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Thanks for the link Clare, good advice! I don't have to travel a great distance to work so don't take all the foodstuffs out with me. If I did break down or have to abandon the car I would be walking past the occasional shop anyway However, it really amazes me the folk at work who come in their cars wearing silly shoes and indoor clothing. In winter I have a can of de-icer and around a kilo of salt with me (I take these into the office with me too, in case I have trouble getting back into the car) , plus hat, scarf, gloves, wellies and will be wearing suitable attire to walk home if I need to. Some may say a little extreme in a city. I also use my gears to slow me down, and brake as little as possible, but sometimes have to touch the brake pedal to show red lights to vehicles behind if they are not paying attention. I always assumed the stopping distance on ice was 10x normal? I understand in Scarborough the council have been using sand from the beaches on the roads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapaJuliet Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Taking your foot off the throttle is the correct advice for a front wheel drive car, but may make a skid worse in a rear wheel drive car - you may need a little throttle to match the speed of the drive wheels to the movement on the road to regain grip. It takes a lot of practice to do this, mind! Since most cars are front wheel drive, this is generally good advice. I drive a rear wheel drive car (big, fat, low profile tyres... absolutely no grip on ice, even with traction control) I find that the most common type of "skid" I get into is on low grip surfaces while turning and the back end will try to overtake the front. My natural reaction is to take my foot of the throttle which (with the DSC) allows the car to get back in line. (I stress this is my personal experience with my car and my driving style.) Now, despite possible appearances I am not a Boy Racer so I never get badly out of control. For example, last night when I left work I was very gingerly tiptoeing towards the motorway, and as I left a roundabout, barely touching the throttle, the back end twitched. The thing is, I know that it's not the best car to be driving on ice so I may be ultra cautious so I don't think I've ever got into a "proper" skid. PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Grew up using 2nd gear driving in snow and even 3rd if the car would let me as gives a much better grip altogether and these were some great tips for drivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Thanks Hadn't seen it before, did some snow/ice driving with my instructor and we found a quiet road and he put the handbrake on to show me what a skid was like ... was quite good to do it controlled before it happened for 'real'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I cannot beleive the speedsters out today - even though roads appeared clear, there would suddenly be a large patch of ice/sludge - how do they expect to control a car when they hit that I've walked into work and the morons are unbelievable. The road work is on is like an ice rink and I've just seen some bloke in his 40's deliberately accelerating and sending his car into skids all the way down the road Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I find that the most common type of "skid" I get into is on low grip surfaces while turning and the back end will try to overtake the front. My natural reaction is to take my foot of the throttle which (with the DSC) allows the car to get back in line. (I stress this is my personal experience with my car and my driving style.) Taking your foot off the throttle is a good first step, but continue without any throttle and you may then skid again as the speed of the car exceeds the speed at which the drive wheels are rotating. The DSC applies a little throttle to compensate for the fact that you've taken your foot off. Most modern rear wheel drive cars have DSC or something like it, but some don't - my previous car was a rear wheel drive sports car and very bad on ice and didn't have DSC. It is good to do a rally/skid control course, as you learn to power through skids - it is huge fun going round a right hand bend with the steering hard over to the left looking out of the side window of the car - not recommended for the road, but it does give you a lot of practice and a feel for what happens with various amounts of throttle and brake/handbrake when the car starts to skid! Sometimes it is good to practice deliberately skidding the car and getting the feel for how it responds - DH regularly practices to ensure his technique is sound should there be a problem. However, I wouldn't say it is a brilliant idea to do it when there are other cars, pedestrians and folk about! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 8, 2010 Author Share Posted January 8, 2010 *sticks hands up* I practice skid control too; in the snow before C'mas, we went to a local car park, which was empty but had compacted snow, showed Rosie what I was doing to control the skid - what little control you do have in those conditions that is. Our road is like a ski ramp today; the kids have ben sledging down it so the snow is compacted and icy, but the main roads around town seem a little better. Phil is still stuck up at his folks farm, where he lives, so I have enlisted the help of the ex to push me out of the road tomorrow so I can get the new car. The main road outside the office seems better this morning, but the temp has risen and it is starting to snow again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I've just found this on the BBC news site http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8447680.stm Its got lots of advice about keeping warm, so obvious. Also, near the bottom, there is some very good advice about your car in cold temperatures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 What I find works well when you're stuck on icy slopes is to move the steering wheel left to right as you move - if you're stuck, turn it somewhere between a quarter and half turn to help get you going. The wheels are then traversing across the slope as well as up, meaning they aren't going up such a steep incline, so it really helps. HOWEVER obviously better to avoid that situation in the first place: but if nothing else works that often does. Emergency kit in the car is a very good plan, warm hat/gloves/sleeping bag/biscuits/torch/wind up radio/ thick socks... some people swear by a supply of tea-light candles; if you can't get the car engine going (and therefore the heating) then candles will take the chill off slightly. Not driving when you're likely to need an emergency kit is maybe a better plan though not always possible! Letting a little air out of tyres mean they grip better, but not in deep snow or you'll get stuck (also you're then left with tyres that aren't as safe in other conditions until you get the pressure adjsuted again. I guess if all else fails and you have to try something then... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 My rear wheel drive car has run flat tyres. Not brilliant in the snow or ice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapaJuliet Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I find that the most common type of "skid" I get into is on low grip surfaces while turning and the back end will try to overtake the front. My natural reaction is to take my foot of the throttle which (with the DSC) allows the car to get back in line. (I stress this is my personal experience with my car and my driving style.) Taking your foot off the throttle is a good first step, but continue without any throttle and you may then skid again as the speed of the car exceeds the speed at which the drive wheels are rotating. The DSC applies a little throttle to compensate for the fact that you've taken your foot off. Good point, though I probably couldn't have explained in those terms. Rear end twitch, foot off, DSC light flash, straighten up, foot on (gently) Most modern rear wheel drive cars have DSC or something like it, but some don't - my previous car was a rear wheel drive sports car and very bad on ice and didn't have DSC. Oh boy! Mine's bad enough with. It is good to do a rally/skid control course, as you learn to power through skids When I bought my car they gave me a day out playing on the Prodrive test track, including the skid pan. Good fun ... and useful to see what the car can do .... but I could probably do with a refresher. PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 We have had fun & games here today. My cottage is at the bottom os a log hill,& one chap in particular was revving the heck out of his car to try & get up it,& skidding all over the place. Of course he had to try about 8 times,blocking the road each time he failed It almose came to blows between him & another driver,who had got a good run up but then became blocked by this berk Very entertaining - all the neighbours & the postie were lined up watching Of course that said I still have to try & pull out of my drive in a minute & attempt to get up the hill,as the other was is now impassable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 ...It almose came to blows between him & another driver,who had got a good run up but then became blocked by this berk... Wandering off topic at rather a tangent, were you aware of the etymology of that particular word? Not that it makes the description necessarily wrong..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Oh yes,ahem,I meant it as someone who comes from Berks,just down the road Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 ...It almose came to blows between him & another driver,who had got a good run up but then became blocked by this berk... Wandering off topic at rather a tangent, were you aware of the etymology of that particular word? Not that it makes the description necessarily wrong..... I certainly didn't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 I got stuck going uphill almost home because some berk/moron coming down the hill stopped next to a parked car to admire the view. As he went past me he was treated to some of the choicest Anglo-Saxon in my repertoire. I'm not bad at driving in snow because we used to live in Southern Germany and got used to it every winter. However in Germany everyone changes their tyres to winter ones and puts a set of snow chains in the boot. One of my liveries is a bit shamefaced as she drives a Subaru legacy 4X4 but it cant make it to the yard (I did chuckle I must admit) which goes to show how it doesnt really matter what you drive, if the tyres are low-profile and you dont know how to drive in the conditions, you are as stuffed as everyone else! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 10, 2010 Author Share Posted January 10, 2010 How true Rhapsody! I've seen a couple of cars here with chains on, one was a light little RWD sports car, so they needed them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
