A “White Christmas” may be more of a dream than a reality here in North Carolina. But as Father Time slowly takes his final lap of 2014, his good friend Old Man Winter is just beginning his run. And the freezing rain, sleet, and snow that he leaves behind can make driving even more of a challenge during the holiday season.
And though even small amounts of snowfall are rare in this area, adhering to a few simple rules of the road when they do occur will help make your holiday travel less hazardous.
Stay Home! Sometimes it simply best to just stay home, or at least remain where you are until snow plows or sanding crews have done their work.
Slow Down, You Drive Too Fast! Driving too fast is the number one winter driving error. Slippery roads make every mistake happen faster and more dramatically. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning — nothing happens as quickly as it does on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver. Take it slow.
Accelerate S-L-O-W-L-Y… Applying the gas pedal slowly is the best way to regain traction, accelerate, and avoiding skidding. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. Take your time.
Brake Gently. Braking should be done early and gently. But don’t stop completely if you can avoid it. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. Take it easy.
Too Much Steering Is Bad! If a slick road causes your front tires to lose their grip while turning, the common — but incorrect — reaction is to continue turning the steering wheel. That won’t ever improve the situation and could make things even worse. If the icy condition ends and the front tires do regain traction, your car will dart in whichever direction the wheels are pointed. That may be into oncoming traffic or a telephone pole. Something very similar happens if you steer too much while braking with an anti-lock braking system (ABS). Unfortunately, there are situations where nothing you do will prevent a crash. But turning the steering wheel too much never helps.
Technology Offers No Miracles On 34th Street! All-wheel drive (AWD) and electronic stability control (ESC) can get you into trouble by offering a false sense of security. AWD only can help a vehicle accelerate or keep moving: It cannot help you go around a snow-covered turn, much less stop at an icy intersection. And although ESC can prevent a spinout, it can’t clear ice from the roads or give your tires more traction. Don’t let these newfangled devices lull you into overestimating available traction.
Driving slow and steady like the tortoise may seem torturous, but it won’t be as hair-raising as driving like a hare. And it will get you and loved ones to your destination safely and soundly. White Christmas or not, enjoy safe and happy holiday travels.
The post Winter Driving Tips: So You Won’t Need a Miracle on 34th Street appeared first on Greensboro Real Estate.
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