Driving in icy conditions
Few of today’s motorists, for whom the car is no longer a luxury but a means of transportation, knew what does it mean to “laid up” your car and all winter use the public transport. After all, in winter in your car is warm and cozy when it’s howling blizzard, or there is torrential rain and snow. You can go to work and shop without freeze and wet your feet. Car its an umbrella, and a stove, and a vector of weights, and the ability to do several things at once, some even have time to educate their children during the journey. So today almost no one “laid up” the car. Four wheel friend work all year round. And in the winter as well. The main thing it’s understanding the driver and car. And in icy conditions it is especially required. And that such understanding was needed in advance to prepare for it. Prepare and car and ourselves.
Prepare the car.
1. Make sure that grease the motor, rear axle and the gearbox are suitable for use in low temperature conditions. This information is usually written on the packaging producer of oil. If it is do not fit, you must change it.
2. On a special stand in the service station, check the uniformity of breaking the left and right parts of the car. The brakes need to take the same and work well.
3. Change the tires from summer to winter. For driving in icy conditions are best suited to smaller tires and more frequent tread. Experts advise to use the so-called elastic radial tires. And, if you decide to use used tires, then try that it is not to have been older than 5-6 years. Over time, the material becomes harder tire, and thus loses its elastic properties, especially needed when driving in icy conditions.
4. Reduce tire pressure. Experts advise to be reduced to 1.5 atm. Deterioration of tire covers of course, increases, but increases throughput of the car.
5. With a great care to treat the knobby tyres. If you live in the city, it is better not to use them at all.
6. Ask for a car tow rope, put in a “glove compartment” cloth bag with the salt – to wipe the windshield when it freezes.
7. Going to the road, always have an adequate supply of gasoline.
8. And do not forget to bring your cell phone.
Prepare the driver.
1. As soon as the roads become slippery, it’s best to start with training. In order to “enter into winter mode.” It goes without saying that the best way to do it on a deserted road. Acceleration, braking, measure and compare the path at different speeds, let the car skidded and try to steer in a word, wake up the muscle memory.
2. Remember that all the moves of driver when driving in icy conditions should be smooth and unhurried. No sudden braking and acceleration. In winter, should go 10-15 km/h slower than in summer.
3. If possible, keep your distance to the neighboring car is two times longer than usual.
4. Approaching the intersection, begin to smooth braking distances, up to twice the distance at which you brake in the summer.
About the dangers and how to avoid them.
Let’s say right away that there were no guarantees of security of the vehicle in icy conditions exist. It is better to stop in the garage and ride out there, when the rink finally melted. Nevertheless you can expose to risks. And they are follows:
1. Slipping. When you slipping- help drive off at high transmission (the second or third). You can also start by raising half the parking brake. Upon reaching the average speeds at the same time and dump the brake and gas.
2. Slippage when driving uphill. If the slide smoothed out, and you have to go, than often, especially for front wheel drive cars use the back door. There is also a technique called “police reversal.” Reverse break up the car about 40 km/h, then squeeze the clutch, the car abruptly unfold at 180 degrees, include a second gear and ride uphill. This method takes practice – self-definition and testing of all movements. Naturally, a sharp reversal of 180 degrees does not on the bare ice.
3. Skidding. In literature and on the Internet described many techniques on how to behave in skid. Practice shows that when the car went into a skid, the driver’s actions become more intuitive, and very few can, as the saying goes, “including the brain,” and act according to the book. You just have to clarify for yourself a few simple rules. First, it should never drastically slow down.
If you are slowdown, then just as smoothly and as slow. Second, when skidding turns the steering wheel in the direction of the skid, it does not matter what drive the car, front or rear. Third. If you bear, always look at the point where at the moment you would like to get. Look only at the desired point, and not where the car is.
Danger of drift traps the driver at overtaking, a detour and on turn. If the car has suffered, give yourself a set “switch on the brain.” Emotions are aside. Loosen the brake. It does not matter whether you put pressure on the brake or engine braking. Any lock front wheels – and the car is out of control. Turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid.
If you have time to figure out how to go to higher gear than lower the torque and the load on the wheel. Then: for front-drive cars carefully rev, for rear-wheel drive – often pressing on the brake pedal. If you feel that the bank has decreased, straighten the wheel.
It happens that after a skid is followed by another in the opposite direction. Do everything the same way: in the direction of the skid steering wheel and look to the point where you want to go and not be broken. And every time “listen” the car and its instinct for survival.
There is a danger of skidding as a departure from the track. Since the “slowly” from the track to leave, as a rule, can not account and you have to rev, here at the moment of departure, especially on ice, the wheels are locked and the car goes into a skid. Therefore, before leaving the track recommended reducing the speed, trying to make the machine has not suffered. And when skidding act the same way as described above.
And in conclusion remains to wish all motorists, as always, to have a safe journey. After the driver in the winter, more than ever, we need good luck and fortune. And, although no bad weather, it is different every day and every day requires a driver’s creative approach to this seemingly everyday business, like driving. So, thank you for understanding!
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