Driving - ice roads

[The Duncan]

I drove back from my shoot yesterday evening. A normal journey time of a fraction over one hour became three hours. It was OK as long as you drove very carefully, used a high gear where possible and avoided the brakes. The problems were always large BMWs, Jags and in one case a Maserati (would you really take one out in the snow!). Powerful engines, fat tyres and auto gearboxes don't mix in the snow. Inevitably any incline and these cars just sat there spinning their wheels. In a car such as those I suspect you are banjaxed regardless of how good a driver you think you are. And of course everybody else suffers behind them. my little 1.5d Megan coped fine until I got home and was unable to negotiate the drive!

My S Type Jag is doing ok in the white stuff, not ideal but do-able :blink:

If you try and use too many of the horses, the traction control chimes in to spoil the fun

[Cookiemonsterandmerlin.]

I feel sorry for the full time deliver drivers who had a real slating in the news and on here in numerous topics etc.

 

For some reason joe public expect there post parcels but also think they should be have paid days off work becauswe its to dangerous to drive to work crazy.

 

Back to topic the keep the best advice is feel for movement of the car though you backside not the streering wheel as that is where your brain detect the slide before your reaction catch up.

 

Cheers OTH

[Swamp Beast]

AS above - unless its life or death dont risk it!

 

I am cancelling all my work for Monday & hope things clear up by Tuesday :(

 

Its a pain in the ***** but I dont want to wreck myself or my car or anyone else for the sake of a days pay.

 

ive as of today given up driving in this weather; put the car off the road today doing 30mph;just flipped and ended up bouncing off hedge twice. 3yr old was in the back so got a bit of a fright thinking what if had another motor been coming the other way or someone walking along. lifes too short

[Albertan_J]

This country is doomed if you lot plan on sitting at home if its snows every winter :blink:

[poontang]

This country is doomed if you lot plan on sitting at home if its snows every winter :blink:

 

I expect that's what this lot thought before they took their chances with it.

 

 

 

 

I know where I'd rather be.

[ollie]

This country is doomed if you lot plan on sitting at home if its snows every winter :blink:

my thoughts exactly, but each to their own

[digger]

Let 10 psi out of your tyres, but dont forget to top them up when the roads clear. It does make a difference as the tyre "footprint" is bigger. I have a front wheel drive Alfa that has coped ok. That said my Polish mate with an X5 took me for a spin in it with the traction off, sideways and tail slapping with him in tatal control, they really know how to cope

[throbbingfinger]

I travel about the south alot for my work, I'm staying fairly local this week. My VW Golf GT is not to bad in the snow but the ice is another matter.

 

You must read the road and anticipate an impending situation all the times. There's so many idiots on the roads to start with so a load of snow really mucks things up.

[bignoel]

roads round here are terrible had to collect my relatives from heath row Friday and we only had a dusting of snow and it was like the whole of england had come to a stand still. when the heavy snow came there was not a gritter in sight come wednesday i have to bury my mum yes another xmass funeral for me dad now mum i just hope the snow lays off till then .

[officerdibble777]

 

 

 

 

So you would rather lose out on a days pay. If that was the case that would be up to about a week now I would have lost in wages and unfortunately I can't afford to do that.

ollie ,mate if your hotel is that important,and you are so needed there,why has your employer not given you a room during the worst of the weather?

If the majority of staff don't make it,do you think guests will do any better ?

[Devon Fox]

Ollie,

 

I run my own driving school, I would normally take them out in a little snow & ice as its valuable tuition to them.

 

However, this weather is exceptional, the advice given by the emergency services are to avoid non essential driving. I can’t ignore that!

 

I am glad I decided not to go today, the 50 mile haul to lessons today would have been lethal, the Atlantic highway has been closed so I wouldn’t have got there anyway, only ended up stuck in the middle of who knows where, all driving test are suspended for the week.

 

We have well over a foot of snow and the only vehicle leaving my village today so far was a tractor.

 

As above, why didn’t you stay at the hotel?, I don’t think it’s fair for people to put even more pressure on emergency services, the Atlantic highway is closed, according to the local radio it’s because of people like you trying to drive it, and now the gritters and ploughs cannot clear it because of all the stuck and dumped cars!

 

You make your choice, I will make mine

Edited December 20, 2010 by Hot-Shot

[al4x]

They've used snow ploughs and gritters here, but the A12 was still a lottery this morning.

 

 

 

that looks quite straight forward to drive on really

 

the simple things to remember about driving on snow and ice is that in a normal car its speed that gets you into trouble, on the straight its fine but corners you need to have lost most of your speed so momentum doesn't carry you sideways. With a front wheel drive car just take it steady leave loads more room in front and you'll be fine on most roads till the depth of snow becomes an issue.

Have to say my 4x4 went into 4x4 for a short while on saturday but since its been in 2wd and its RWD and haven't had any issues. The biggest plus point is we have enough here so the idiots have stayed at home and getting to work actually took me about 10 minutes less than usual

[MJN]

invest in some SNOW Chains, we always used them in the past before everyone got soft and expect the State to provide everything.

M.

[HDAV]

invest in some SNOW Chains, we always used them in the past before everyone got soft and expect the State to provide everything.

M.

 

I've got a set of auto socks sat waiting to be needed but if the idiot in front is not prepared your stuck behind them...not too bad if it's one car, but if it's 3-4-50+ what can you do? Is it allowed to just keep driving round stuck vehicles? if you have 4x4 + chains/ice tryes etc do you have an exemption to drive anywhere you can?

[MJN]

The other countries in Europe that have snow from time to time insist all drivers carry them during the winter months,

I've seen people turned around and sent back from certain places if they had not got them. Is it time to start educating people to invest in chains/socks so that we do not get jammed everytime the roads turn white !

No it wasn't me driving past everyone in my gayloader honest :-)

M.

[officerdibble777]

I remember a bit of advice I was given on a driving course .Your vechical does three things,moves,stops and changes direction.

In conditions where you might loose traction,only apply one of theese functions at any one time.Think of the variations ?

john

Edited December 20, 2010 by officerdibble777

[Cosd]

Drove 180 mile round journey on Saturday in my sisters Rav4 and I have to say the car was fantastic. I drive a Mercedes CLK and that is absolutely terrible, so much so that on returning home after dropping off the Rav it is stranded across the pavement as it won't make it onto the drive.

 

The Rav just went through anything I came across, including any back street detours I took to avoid roads scattered with cars that just couldn't move, steep inclines etc etc. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying it is infallible, but as long as you pay respect to the conditions, within reason these cars will get you anywhere you need to go. I don't know what tyres my brother in law fitted to it, the car isn't used for off road but boy does it handle well when it's needed.

 

I have to invest in a 4x4 in the new year, the wife has given me the green light, just need to decide which one.

[al4x]

invest in some SNOW Chains, we always used them in the past before everyone got soft and expect the State to provide everything.

M.

 

 

are they any good on roads that are packed snow that's frozen to Ice? as thats whats round here and all i can think of is they will wreck your car driving on that surface with chains.

 

Fundamentally its pretty pathetic decent winter tyres are all you need in most of the country

[BlaserF3]

Here's a little clip showing the difference http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXuhfwY74b8 If you haven't got the right tyres you will not get very far in safety.

[MJN]

are they any good on roads that are packed snow that's frozen to Ice? as thats whats round here and all i can think of is they will wreck your car driving on that surface with chains.

 

Fundamentally its pretty pathetic decent winter tyres are all you need in most of the country

 

Yes exactly what they are for, I agree the ride might not be the smoothest but at least you will have some traction.

M.

[MC]

I am firmly in the right tyre camp, I had a new set of All Terrain tyres on my disco about 6 weeks ago and it has been amazing in this weather, I even recovered a recovery truck on saturday night.

 

I just wish the heater would warm up.

 

Anyone can drive fast in this, that isn't the problem. Going around corners and stopping is where it becomes fun.

[Mrs Sweepy]

Well i HAD too work this weekend

And my job involves being on the road(mainly back roads) most of the time.

And i run into no probs i was just sensible. Know my limitations and also the cars.

Not bad for a woman driver in a little Hyundai

xxxxSuzy

[HDAV]

Just had to dig a K*ob out who got his Skoda stuck outside my place while trying to turn round he had shunted on full lock so many times he had polished the road surface and had tried a tesco bag and a windscreen icescrapper to get him self out :angry: I only went to help as he seemed hell bent on crashing into the missus car!

(sideways while slithering around!!!!)

Edited December 20, 2010 by HDAV

[libs]

Easy way to put it, I think, is to drive like your mother. I do everything so slowly and pull off in whatever gear I happen to stop in (normally second.) The slush isn't too bad, but the quiet roads with compacted snow/ice are awful around here. Although, the carparks are great

[DSPUK]

My first venture out today - I have Auto and 209bhp and FWD - lock it in first or second and gently on throttle - no problems at all but sure wish I had a Freelander - got a woman in one right up my back bumper - each time I touched throttle the traction light came on so I assume she had studded tyres and lightning quick reactions if I had to brake.

 

Dave