Tips for Driving in the Snow

[moosedog]

Winters in Michigan have had less and less snow over the last 30 years which is ok with me. Cold temps don't bother me, and I actually like being retired and doing my winter activities like reading, reloading, burning wood, exercising and other indoor things.
Spring and fall are my favorite seasons, and I cannot even imagine Christmas with Palm Trees.

 

[jaguargolf]

I had a Chief in the Coast Guard tell me

"4 wheel drive is for getting home. If you need 4 wheel drive to get to work, stay home. Call us, we'll understand."

 

[dockmurgw]

The best advice is to... don't, stay at home. Even though you may be well prepared and experienced with driving in snowy conditions, the other guy will still get you.

John

Great advice...for the independently wealthy, public employees that get paid for not showing up, and the retired. But for the rest of us, not so good.

 

[dockmurgw]

Hate to burst any bubbles here, but 4WD is better on ice...starting and stopping. Two things make it better, knowing what you're doing and THE RIGHT TIRES! By the right tires, I DONT mean all season tires, I mean dedicated snow tires. The kind that will become bald in one summer if you don't take them off in the spring. I run all season for 3 seasons, dedicated studded snows for winter. For most here that would be overkill, but for me its necessary, and I stop just fine on ice with my 4WD.

 

[jeffrefrig]

If you can't drive in the snow, please stay away from Pittsburgh. Go up to Buffalo and practice a few years.

 

[Bugkiller99]

stolen from facebook again. Lee

I have studied this for many years. Take my word for it, it does not work.

PLEASE. DO NOT DO THIS. I BEG OF YOU.

There is no more room here.

 

[dockmurgw]

I have studied this for many years. Take my word for it, it does not work.

PLEASE. DO NOT DO THIS. I BEG OF YOU.

There is no more room here.

I just read that North Florida has plenty of room, only 18% of your population lives there. You have plenty of room for another few million Long Island, NYC and MASS transplants...I'll even kick in a few bucks for moving expenses!!!

 

[quikdraw67]

Rookies...

As a lifelong resident of Michigan, driving in snow isn't a big deal.
Buy a 4x4 with all weather tires.
Keep your gas tank at least half full.
Thoroughly clear your windows and mirrors.
Slow down.
Maintain extra space from other vehicles.
Allow increased stopping distance and avoid sudden moves.
Slow down...

Icy roads are a problem.
Stay home until the salt trucks make main roads passable. Then follow the above tips for driving in snow.

Same in my part of Penn's Woods.

Gotta watch out for the recent transplants. They have no clue in their Camrys and Elantras.

 

[Peak53]

My Solution

County Road 765 two miles from the house last February. Pretty much goes anywhere

 

[gjgalligan]

QUOTE=petepeterson;142142135].
Tip #2- If you're not sure about it, don't.

[/QUOTE]

You never know until you try.

 

[Warren Sear]

................

 

[Liftrat]

Ha! My buddy and I used to ride motorcycles to work all winter in the high country of Colorado. We did use Ivan the Butcher's idea of sheet metal screws, which helped a lot. Fun seeing the expressions on the tourists faces when we'd pass them. Too much traffic up here now, mostly people who have never seen snow, and are driving on summer tires. I'm less daring now, and have 4WD and dedicated winter tires.

 

[charlie sherrill]

Winters in Michigan have had less and less snow over the last 30 years which is ok with me. Cold temps don't bother me, and I actually like being retired and doing my winter activities like reading, reloading, burning wood, exercising and other indoor things.
Spring and fall are my favorite seasons, and I cannot even imagine Christmas with Palm Trees.

You really haven't enjoyed Christmas until you have see palm trees with Christmas lights.

 

[Birdgun]

By the way,
I hate snow.

God bless,
Birdgun

 

[Tinyman]

Had enough -- Plattsburgh NY, Pease NH, Bitburg Germany, Osan Korea. Mrs. Tinyman asked where we would settle -- like post #6, actually did that. Snow shovel on car roof, drove south, first place someone asked "whatinthehellisthat" we would stop. Here now in CA (Central Alabama).

 

[charlie sherrill]

Had enough -- Plattsburgh NY, Pease NH, Bitburg Germany, Osan Korea. Mrs. Tinyman asked where we would settle -- like post #6, actually did that. Snow shovel on car roof, drove south, first place someone asked "whatinthehellisthat" we would stop. Here now in CA (Central Alabama).

Tell the truth. You moved there because they had a Buc ci's. And a world class range at nearby Talladega probably helped some also. Alabama Gun Collector Shows aren't far either. You live in a beautiful area with good gun laws.

 

[charlie sherrill]

Put a snow shovel on the hood of your car and drive south until someone asks you what that is.

That’s far enough.

There is a local salvage business that had hundreds of discounted snow shovels. I bought one for $5.00 to use for cleaning a chicken house. It took years to sell them all even at that price. The owner said most of the buyers were "Yankees heading back North".

 

[raljr1]

I was in Flagstaff Arizona on business in early November many years ago. We got six inches of snow overnight. I had to visit a client in the morning and while I was cleaning my car, a woman came up to me wearing sandals with socks on. She said she was from Phoenix and asked me how she could get the this stuff off of the car. I suggested that the hotel might loan her a broom of some type. She then asked me, how do you drive in this. I told her about going slow, turning into the skid if you start to slide, maintaining following distances, pumping brakes, a few basics. She asked if there was anything else I could tell her. I said, " Wait till I get out of the parking lot before you start driving."

 

[Autonomous]

I'm in the PNW banana belt now. Snow that stays more than a few days is rare. We do get black ice storms but being retired... so what!

Back in the day I drove truck in hilly rural areas where snowplows were scarce, and winter was real.
I enjoyed the challenge and the skills I learned.

 

[pantannojack]

Practice in an EMPTY parking lot. Do not touch brakes if front wheels are any amount turned. Slow down sufficiently before attempting to turn. Test tire friction before necessary to slow down. Test side play of tires before being confident for curvy roads. At night following another vehicle, in your head light beams, if you see sparkles from rear tires, that means freezing condition, if not sparkles it is not ice but may be on the road. White ice is as bad as black ice, winter is color blind. If someone behind tailgates, deploy twin fifty rear gun.