Ann Arbor area residents: Heed these winter wonderland driving tips
Winter is upon us and everyone knows the rule: When you go into a skid, take your foot off the accelerator and turn in the direction of the skid. My tip is to slow down and avoid going into the skid. Winter driving requires a little more finesse than fair weather driving. Your speed should be slower, and you should start braking much earlier than on dry pavement. Â
Slower speeds, longer braking distances and clearing your windshield means it will take you longer to get to your destination. You should plan your drive ahead of time. Listen to the weather before you go to bed and adjust your alarm clock accordingly.
Winter is also the time of the year that will dramatically reveal whether your tires have enough tread on them. Don’t be the guy spinning his bald tires on Huron Street in Ann Arbor, trying to get up the incline at First (Glen at Huron, Miller at Seventh - readers, you can insert your own favorite ice mountains here). Â
If you're the guy spinning, listen to the horns and check your rearview mirror. The angry mob in your rearview mirror is telepathically calling you names and urging you to purchase new tires. You could see them better if you weren’t throwing a 20-foot rooster tail of snow and ice as you try in vain to burn down to dry pavement.Â
Incidentally, you can spin your steel belted radial tires long enough and fast enough to have a blow out that can severely damage your fender and send the tire tread launching into your neighbor’s front yard. A personal hero of mine demonstrated this once.
For those of you who have SUVs and four-wheel drive vehicles, congratulations - this is your time of year! You can really get up and go while most of us are spinning to build momentum. Unfortunately, the laws of physics are absolute.Â
Every vehicle is equal in regard to the laws of physics. Four wheel drive, two wheel drive, it matters little when it comes to stopping on snow or ice covered pavement. It’s all kinetic energy and friction coefficients. Your four-wheel drive won’t brake any faster than any other car, so slow down.Â
Remember also that salt will not melt snow and ice when the temperature drops below 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Unless you are an Olympic bobsled driver, stay off eastbound Geddes between Hill and Huron Parkway if it is icy. That stretch and I-94 over Jackson Avenue are two of the most treacherous stretches in Ann Arbor during icy conditions.Â
Avoid drastic braking or steering on bridges, overpasses or underpasses in cold weather. These areas freeze quickly and are often very slick. Â
Take your time, slow down and enjoy the majestic beauty of another Michigan winter. Lock it up, don’t leave it unattended, be aware and watch out for your neighbors.
Rich Kinsey is a retired Ann Arbor detective sergeant who now blogs about crime and safety for AnnArbor.com.
Comments
Dr. Fate
Fri, Dec 28, 2012 : 7:29 p.m.
Found this article from 2009 while searching for snow tires in A2. It should be a yearly staple. Or at least have big bold letters stating, "SLOW DOWN!" Too many people forget that part when the snow comes.
a2resident
Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 2:05 a.m.
I have long term advise, move somewhere that's on the bus line and take the bus everywhere. Don't drive!
Jake C
Thu, Dec 17, 2009 : 1:01 p.m.
@C6: Your comments are intended to be helpful, but some are incorrect. Pushing in the clutch on a manual transmission vehicle when you start to lose rear traction will almost always result in a weight transfer forward, resulting in an even faster about-face if you're already spinning. It's the equivalent of totally taking your foot off the accelerator, which is almost always the wrong thing to do whether you have a rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive car. Like Pete said, just maintain a steady (but lesser) pressure on the accelerator to help guide the car in a straight line, and stay as calm as possible. Jerking the wheel from side to side and jamming on the brake (or accelerator) is pretty much the worst thing you can do in an emergency situation in the winter. Also, anti-lock brakes are NOT intended to help you stop in the shortest distance possible. Their purpose is to give the driver *some* steering traction during slippery conditions, so that you can avoid the obstacle in front of you instead of plowing straight into it. Maximum braking power on paved roads is usually accomplished by maintaining a steady pressure on the brakes instead of just slamming down on them. Of course, vehicle manufacturers know that it's hard for the average driver to know exactly how hard to press the brake in an emergency situation. Thus, the whole point of anti-lock brakes is to still allow for some directional control, because the wheels don't completely lock up. Basically: For maximum braking in a straight line, slowly but firmly press the brake until you feel the wheels start to lock up (or ABS start to kick in) and then back off slightly. If you don't think you can stop in time to avoid an obstacle in front of you, just jam on the brakes and steer away from oncoming traffic and towards a non-deadly obstacle (usually a ditch). But absolutely, the best advice is to know the limits of your vehicle and your tires. Use snow tires in the winter if possible, don't drive while distracted, and practice driving in snowy conditions in an empty parking lot so you know how quickly your vehicle can stop, and what sort of steering inputs it can handle when it's icy out!
C6
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 9:38 p.m.
The advice on skidding here is good if you drive a rear wheel drive vehicle, that tends to oversteer (do a Google search or Wikipedia lookup, if you don't know what this means), but I'd also add to disengage your transmission by pushing in the clutch if you're lucky enough to have a manual shift rear wheel drive vehicle and find yourself in a skid. That takes the driving force away from the tires that are spinning in the skid. If you don't spend your driving time in an Impala or Crown Victoria patrol car or other rear wheel drive vehicle however, you might need to know that front wheel drive vehicles tend to understeer (back to Google or Wikipedia) in a skid. All wheel drive handles different than the other two in a skid too. What you really need to do is practice skidding in an empty snow-covered parking lot somewhere, but a retired cop isn't going to recommend that to you because it's probably not legal unless you happen to own the lot. That's your best way to learn just how your car will react in a skid however, and you might also learn how to better stop a skid if you find yourself going astray on the road. Another thing I like to do is give a questionable road surface's traction a little low speed trial by hitting the accelerator or brakes in a safe location when I'm first starting out. Don't wait until you need to make a quick stop, to find out. Also, there's no excuse for having a vehicle without antilock brakes today. If you have them, you know they work to give you the shortest stopping distance possible, even on slippery surfaces. Also, traction control and stability control both work to help you accelerate and maintain control as you're driving, but don't count on them too much for helping you stop any better on slippery surfaces. Finally, as you come to a smooth and controlled stop behind someone at a traffic signal, be sure to stop far enough back that you can still see where their rear tires meet the road's surface. That helps insure you won't end up the middle of a sandwich if the idiot behind you doesn't stop in time.
tdw
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 4:37 p.m.
how about a particle beam trasporter thing like in Star Trek
Woman in Ypsilanti
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 4:31 p.m.
I want a monorail now!
Captain Magnificent
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 3:46 p.m.
I don't want to sound like a one-trick-parrot but one sure-fire way to alleviate winter transportation woes would be to install that Monorail I've been reading so much about recently. I for one would gladly park my car in the garage so that I could ride in the warm cabin of such a futuristic mode of transportation! http://www.annarbor.com/community/news/opinion/monorail_considered_an_option_for_relieving_lincoln_trasnsportation_woes/
Vernice
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 12:37 p.m.
If you drive an SUV, PLEASE listen to Mr. Kinsey's advice. As much as I love the feeling of having a vehicle twice the size of mine spinning towards me, I'd rather you slow down and respect the safety of other drivers.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 10:54 a.m.
My advice for getting around town when the roads are bad? Take the bus!
Adam Jaskiewicz
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 10:48 a.m.
Go find a deserted parking lot and learn how your car handles in a skid. It's fun, and it really helps to be able to feel what's going on with your wheels and how to recover from a slide. Just make sure it's really empty, and don't pick a lot with light poles scattered all over the place.
uawisok
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 10:39 a.m.
I might also like to remind driver that distance to follow another driver is "1 car length for every 10 miles per hour"....so quite tailgating!!
Bob
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 10:20 a.m.
I have been doing snow remvale for over 30 years. Also driving big rigs in all weather conditions. There is only one rule to remember. No matter what you are driving you CANT TURN AND YOU CANT STOP. So dont try to do anything sudden.
pseudo
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 8:40 a.m.
I would add Glazier way between Green and Huron Parkway - don't go unless its clear.
Pete
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 8:29 a.m.
In a skid, DON'T take your foot off the accelerator! That's just like putting on the brakes for your front or rear wheels (depending on whether you have front- or rear-wheel-drive). Instead, EASE OFF until you are neither accelerating or decelerating. When you have the car back under control, THEN decelerate to a safe speed.
Sharon
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 8:15 a.m.
also you forgot to mention, stay off your cell phones and pay attention..:)
MjC
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 7:49 a.m.
I'd also appreciate it if the SUV's would give a little breathing room for small cars (we simply can't drive as fast as you can in the snow!). Driving with SUV's headlights glaring into your rearview mirror, knowing that if you have to brake you're going to get slammed, is extremely stressful on snow days.
Indicat
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 6:10 a.m.
Good advice. Especially the part about slowing down. Too bad the ones who need to read this will skip over it thinking it doesn't apply to them.