From: djm@kbs.citri.edu.au (David Mills)
Newsgroups: aus.snow
Subject: Snow driving: Australians should learn if they go skiing
Keywords: driving spinning sliding
Date: 31 Aug 92 07:11:22 GMT
Distribution: aus

Much of the time the mountain roads are relatively easy prospects to drive on,
and one can get away with city driving practises.  But the rest of the time
these practises not only don't work, but can help land you in a major snow
accident which if you go off the road, can result in several fatalities.

Only about 10% of people who drive to the snow seem to be aware of the
different techniques required when driving in the snow.  A few minutes of
learning can save you car or even your life (not to mention some other persons
car or their life).

When conditions are bad on a mountain road ANY sudden change of force on the
car can result in TOTAL loss of control.  As such, all steering and speed
adjustments must be made very carefully and as gradually as possible.

But the most common mistake motorists make in the snow is to lock their wheels
by using the brakes.  On bitumen, when brakes are applied, to friction between
the road and the wheel keep the wheel rotating, and therefore the driver can
maintain control.  If the brakes are applied too hard, the wheel will stop
rotating an the car will skid, often with no directional control.  In the snow
there is little friction between the snow and the wheel.  So even a soft
application of the brakes can result in wheel lock and loss of control.  The
way to avoid this is to drive in such a way that you NEVER (and I stress
NEVER) use your brakes. 

The vehicle MUST be driven in such a way so that the brakes are never needed.
This means using the gears and the engine to limit the vehicles speed.  For
instance, if a vehicle is going down a relatively steep hill in first gear,
with neither the clutch, brake nor accelerator being applied, the vehicle will
maintain a managable speed.  To aid this, the vehicle should not be
accelerated too much.  Some distance before a steep descent or a sharp corner,
the accelerator pedal should be released (and the gear changed to a lower
one), so that the gears and engine have sufficient room to slow the car down
(so that the brakes are not needed).  Leave a large space between you and the
car infront.

If you get into danger and MUST slow down quicker than changing down will,
then try tentatively pumping the brakes.  While trying this leave the car in
gear and DO NOT depress the clutch.  The engine will then help to keep the
wheels rotating, and reduce the likelyhood of wheel lock.  Never keep the
brake depressed and alway release the brake if you feel that the vehicle has
started to slide.  Short soft bursts will slow the vehicle far quicker than a
locked wheel.  Try this on a flat, open road with no other vehicles so that
you get the feel for how much braking is possible (but remember that different
types of snow allow much more or less grip).

If the car does start to slide, you must drive WITH the slide until control is
regained.  This is very hard to do psychologically.  For instance, if driving
round a corner and the rear of the car begins to slide out, straighten up
(i.e. turn the wheels in the direction that the vehicle is travelling - NOT
the direction that you want it to travel) - DO NOT turn the wheel harder, it
will only worsen the slide.  After straightening up, the vehicle will hopefully
regain traction.  Once it has (and not before) begin cornering again (very
cautiously).  The greatest difficulty here, is fighting the urge to steer away
from the approaching wall or edge.  If traction is not regained, hope that
nothing serious happens.

Controlling a skidding or sliding vehicle is not easy and takes lots of
practise.  Most motorists who haven't driven in the snow much (no matter how
long they have driven on normal roads) will not successfully regain control
from a skidding or sliding vehicle.  So it is much better to drive more on the
cautious side, and avoid the chances of losing control.

Finally if all else fails, try to head the car into a snow bank.  Even if you
damage the vehicle, its better than driving off the edge of the road - some of
the road sides drop for thousands of feet.

David.
CITRI

These are my opinions on snow driving, gleaned from tuition by ex-rally
drivers, and many years of snow driving.  There will probably be much that I
have missed in this article (because I don't know it???).  Some of it may even
be misleading (but I hope not).

A final note - the use of chains does not change any of the above.  It simply
improves your chances.  Diamond pattern chains are considerably better than
ladder chains.  There is even a move to ban ladder chains.  For your safety,
spend the extra money on diamond chains.