Driving Tips
Here are some pearls of wisdom from the people at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School, which can help gauge the precariousness of your surroundings and prevent you and your truck from skating off the road like Oksana Baiul.
Facing Facts
Admit it, you're stuck. But before you abandon ship, try these simple but effective methods.Stop spinning! Unless you're stuck on asphalt you're only going to dig yourself in deeper.
Clear the snow away from the wheels by turning them left to right a few times. If all else fails, pull that collapsible shovel from your emergency kit and get digging. It's possible to claw your way out of a snow bank the old-fashioned way.
Get the vehicle rocking back and forth--gently. Remember, if you grenade the transmission, you're going to get towed.
Bust out that little come-along and get tugging. Perhaps there's something nearby (a tree, a utility pole) you can hook it to.
If all else fails, call for help and wait it out.
While you're waiting, stay in the truck with the window cracked and the heat on. If fuel consumption is an issue, run the truck every hour or half-hour and make sure the tailpipe is clear of snow to prevent carbon monoxide from entering the cockpit. |
Look in your rearview mirror first, then tap your brakes to see what it takes to lock up the wheels.
That broad roadside shoulder is probably just a ditch filled with snow. So before you pull to the right, test it, and prepare to ease back on the road if the going gets soft.
Brake and accelerate only in a straight line to prevent your truck from chasing its tail.
Intersections are often the most slippery and dangerous places to drive in a snowstorm. Ditto for hills. With drivers all sharing the same path, hitting the brakes and spinning tires in virtually the same spots, an icy road can get polished like a mirror. Keep speed in check and think about where your best bets for traction might be. Slow and steady will get you and your truck home safely.
It doesn't help to turn lights on if they're caked with snow and ice. Clean them off and turn them on to keep other motorists aware of your presence. Auxiliary lights are great for guiding you through a desolate part of town, but keep them off in traffic to avoid blinding everyone else.
Correctly reading the road can prevent metal-crunching collisions. Be aware of the stuff they taught you back in high-school driver education. Bridges and overpasses ice over first because they don't benefit from Mother Earth's natural warmth. Look out for places that receive little direct sunlight all day.
Sources
Bridgestone Winter Driving School
800/WHYSKID
www.winterdrive.com
The Equinox Driving School
800/362-4747
www.equinoxresort.com
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