HOW TO: Drive in the Snow

That panicky tourist that has never driven in icy or snowy conditions, going 25 on the highway and taking every corner at a dangerously slow pace. Montanans know it all too well. As the weather gets colder, the trickiness of driving surely increases. And if this is your first time driving in the winter elements, it can be very overwhelming. It can also be so incredibly dangerous if you’re going against the grain of seasoned winter drivers. Don’t worry! There’s some simple steps and tips you can take to make sure you’re not too much of a nuisance on the road during slick or snowy seasons.

SMOOTH MOVES

One of the best ways to drive on icy roads is to keep your movements as smooth and fluid as possible. If your movements are too jerky, they will give your tires a harder time adhering to the slippery road. The movement of your throttle is best served deliberate and gentle, while avoiding anything too harsh. One harsh turn and you could be sent spinning, one overcorrection and your fishtailing. Keep your cool as cold as the outdoor air, and avoid any harsh movements.

LOOK INTO THE FUTURE

You should always be looking far ahead when driving, because of course you should. If you have your eyes on the road about a football field’s distance ahead, you’ll give yourself ample time to adjust and prepare for obstacles or dangers. That’s not to say you’re tunnel visioned into the horizon, but you should definitely be as aware as possible of what is coming just up the road. When you have a turn coming, slow down and think about what you’ll need to do next. Your stopping distance is now tripled what it is on dry roads, depending on the severity of the roads/storm that you’re driving through.

READ AND HEED THE SIGNS

On particularly treacherous areas, bridges, and mountainsides, you’ll see plenty of signs that’ll advise you of the dangers of this area. From potential avalanche issues, ice on the bridge, etc. You’ll also be wise to heed a warning that your car instrument will give you. The outline of the car with squiggly lines behind it is indicating that your stability is low. This system is called the stability control system, and it’s vital to understand what it’s telling you when it’s flashing. Ease up on your acceleration so your tires can regain their grip.

DON’T SLAM ON YOUR BRAKES

One of the last things you should do on icy roads is slamming on your brakes. This ties into our Smooth Moves category, because the last thing you want is to spin or fishtail. If you find yourself needing to slam on your brakes to avoid a crash, try your best to drive around the obstacle and brake slowly, instead of slamming. If you do feel your car beginning to skid, look to where you want to go, not to where the car is heading. Your peripheral vision can handle knowing what to avoid. Your focus should be where you’re going, and that’s where you’ll almost always end up.

BE AWARE OF YOUR TRACTION

One of the rites of passage in colder climates is the exchange from regular traction tires to snow tires. It’s vital to get a head start on this, because the extra traction of snow tires saves lives in these icy conditions. After all, even the most experienced winter driver can use all the help they can get when navigating treacherous conditions. Testing your traction continually will ensure that you know exactly how much leeway you have! You can test traction by lightly braking every so often, and very tentatively maneuvering along icy roads. Don’t brake hard, and definitely don’t overcorrect. Just a light ease into the brakes can tell you a lot about how much grip you really have on the road.

These are just a few essential tips to driving on icy winter roads. The most you’ll learn will definitely be through experience, so take this info and get out to practice. This way, when you’re faced with a long drive in treacherous conditions, you’ll have a base level of knowledge and experience. Best of luck!