Winter driving (part three)

Winter driving (part two)	Dec 28, 2006
Winter driving (part one)	Dec 27, 2006

All smooth
In winter driving, all your actions must be done very smoothly. If you abruptly depress the brake pedal or quickly turn the steering wheel, you'll encounter some difficulties and, more often than not, you'll lose control of your vehicle. Keep your distances: on a snowy road, you need more space to brake and to move your vehicle.

During a lane change or when driving in a curve, you have to remain as smooth behind the wheel as possible. It's important to anticipate obstacles and road variations in order to prevent sudden reactions. Don't forget to signal your intentions.

Visibility and anticipation
Your ability to see is the key to safe and sound driving. Your vehicle will go where your eyes go. Scan the road and the landscape. Locate the obstacles: ahead, behind and on each side. Always identify an escape exit or a way to avoid the obstacles. Look regularly in your mirror (a few tenths of a second, each 10-15 seconds). Make sure you can't see your car through the side exterior mirrors. This way, you'll increase your visibility and limit the blind spots.

In a curve, look ahead to where you want to go. Stop focusing on the nose of your vehicle and look beyond. Go try this on a highway on-ramp and you'll realize that you don't need to make small, non-stop adjustments with the steering wheel. Your hands will remain in the same position almost throughout the entire length of the on-ramp. Consequently, you have better control of your vehicle.

Avoidance
If the car in front of you suddenly brakes, quickly identify an exit point in order to avoid a collision. Look ahead to where you want to go and you'll see that your arms will follow and steer the wheel in the intended angle. If you've kept your distance, you will have done everything possible to avoid a collision. Moreover, always brake in a straight line, which also means before a curve. Otherwise, the resulting weight transfer will significantly reduce the turning capacity of your vehicle.

Skidding
Understeer is when the front end of your vehicle starts to skid. If you drive a FWD vehicle, lift your foot from the throttle to allow the front wheels to

(Photo: Ford)

slow down and to regain their grip. If you drive a RWD or AWD vehicle, gently lift your foot and adjust with the steering wheel by looking at your intended destination.

Oversteer is when the rear end of your vehicle starts to skid. Again, lift your foot from the throttle and steer the wheel in the opposite direction of the skidding to bring the vehicle back in a straight line. If you act abruptly during these maneuvers, you'll increase the initial skidding and have harder time getting out of trouble.