If it's snowing heavily: 7 tips for motorists

Heavy snowfall is a phenomenon that catches by surprise not only road workers, but also drivers. If you use some useful tips, you can avoid many problems caused by the elements.

Go out to clean as often as possible

Always clear snow from the machine, even if there is very little rain outside. The larger the snow cap, the more likely it is that an ice crust can form underneath. It appears due to the temperature difference in the cabin and on the street. The snow partially melts and immediately turns into ice. And it's much harder to clean up.

Do not delay cleaning the snow, especially if the car is constantly on the street. Thick snow is much more difficult to clear. Most likely, you will spend at least 15-20 minutes cleaning the body if you miss the snowfall only 2 times. This time can become critical if you need to urgently go somewhere.

Complete cleaning

It is important to do a complete cleaning, not limited to the headlights or windshield. Driving with a snow cap on the roof or hood is dangerous both for the driver himself and for the cars in front. It can avalanche under heavy braking. A snowdrift can damage body parts or block visibility while driving.

Another thing that drivers forget about is cleaning the surrounding area. If you leave the car in the garage, this does not mean that the snow does not need to be removed at all. After 2-3 snowfalls, the gate can be heavily skidded. You just can't get inside until you clear the area in front of them. Snow needs to be cleared in the parking lot as well. Otherwise, you risk chaining your car into a white "captivity".

Don't drive

Even from driving school they taught the rule: the higher the speed, the longer the braking distance. With heavy snowfall, it not only increases, but also becomes unpredictable. Sometimes it takes a split second for the driver to assess the traffic situation and press the brake or gas pedal. In conditions of snowfall - it is even less. Keep even more distance than in good weather. Do not accelerate the vehicle even in good visibility conditions.

Follow the grip

Be sure to monitor the work of assistants during braking (ABS, EBS). These systems can play an evil trick on you. So, when braking, ABS can work and the car will not slow down. Thus, the electronic assistant protects the driver from skidding. However, such assistance often ends in an accident. The car simply does not respond to the brake pedal.

If during a snowfall you start to hear a characteristic crunch, and the ABS light comes on on the dashboard, then you should slow down, increase the distance and be extremely careful when braking.

Naturally, you should not ride on bald or summer tires. And remember - spikes do not give you a guarantee of safety. They are not as effective in snowfall, especially if you pick up thin ice under the snow with your wheels. The car will ride on such a surface as on skates.

Avoid overtaking unnecessarily

Do not make sudden maneuvers, overtake less. The danger also lies in the fact that the machine can "grab" the curb. This effect is familiar to experienced drivers and driving school instructors. Some motorists pay with their own health due to ignorance of such things.

At the moment of overtaking or maneuvering, the car slightly moves off the road and catches the side of the road on one side. Grip on the curb is not as strong as on asphalt. Because of this, the car instantly turns right on the road. On a strip littered with snow, an edge is formed on both sides, since the road is not cleared in time. Starting overtaking, you run the risk of grabbing the snowy part between the lanes, which is fraught with skidding.

Enable Special Mode

Not in all cars, electronic assistants do a disservice. Some assistants make the movement easier. For example, modern automatic transmissions have a “winter mode”. He upshifts the transmission, using the engine's power carefully.

On SUVs and crossovers there is an option "assistance with the descent." It connects a low gear, prevents the car from accelerating above 10 km / h, and also controls car drifts. You can also force the box to go into low mode. However, to move in this mode, you need to have a certain driving skill.

Prepare for a traffic jam

This rule is true not only for residents of the metropolis. Snowfall can leave even small towns without movement. If you went outside, and there is a snow element, it is better to return to the house. Take a thermos with tea, a flash drive with a long playlist and a book. After that, start the car and go.

The likelihood that you will get stuck in a traffic jam is very high. Especially if the path to the destination runs through the central roads. It is also worth filling up a full tank at the nearest gas station. Practice shows that a strong snowstorm can paralyze traffic for 2 or more hours. Under such conditions, you can easily burn all the fuel.