When summer passes, autumn arrives and then winter, two seasons of the year where temperatures begin to drop ostensibly, and with it snowfall occurs. Snow is perfect for enjoying great moments of leisure and entertainment, but we must bear in mind that it can also be a big problem, especially for drivers.
For this reason, and so that you can drive in a much safer way, in this article we are going to explain everything you need to know about how to drive a car on snow. In this way you will be prepared to face driving on snow, ice and even with the presence of both.
Before starting to explain in detail how you should act, you have to keep in mind that when temperatures are below seven degrees Celsius, the tires begin to see their performance reduced.
Although the authorities, before the arrival of snowfall or frost, tend to pour brine, salt or similar on the road to limit the presence of snow and ice, it is necessary to take into account some driving guidelines.
Regardless of the type of tire you are using, even if they are winter tires, they are affected by temperature. In addition, if the weather is adverse, and this is added to asphalt in poor condition or with the presence of dirt, the risk of an accident increases. increases.
How to drive safely in the snow
Once you come across circumstances that have made the situation complicated and the road begins to accumulate snow, it is essential to take extreme precautionary measures. To do this you must start by reducing the use of gear changes as much as possible, resorting to the use of long speed gears.
The higher the gear you use, the less force the wheels will exert, which will reduce the chances of a loss of grip between the tires and the road due to snow or ice.
On the other hand, you have to change the use of the brake pedal. Instead of using it as usual, you have to use it as if the car did not have ABS installed. If your car is old and does not have this system, you will know what we are talking about. In this case, it is necessary to brake without stepping on it fully, dosing the braking progressively and smoothly. In addition, try to resort to engine braking whenever possible.
In addition to taking these two aspects into account, you must always keep in mind the need to increase safety distances with respect to other road users. These exceptional circumstances cause braking distances to increase, as well as a loss of grip on the road and driving is not performed with the same precision. Therefore, any possibility of an accident must be prevented.
Use of the steering wheel
You also have to be much more careful than usual when using the steering wheel. It is imperative to avoid steering bumps and aggressive driving. In this type of situation, even if you drive well, you can have problems due to the slippery situation on the road. Therefore, you should choose to make subtle movements.
These types of situations require greater caution, especially when driving on ice, which is extremely slippery and can cause total loss of control of the vehicle. Despite the fact that current cars have a multitude of driving assistance systems, in this type of circumstance they will not be enough if these tips are not taken into account.
In any case, they are useful and unless it is extremely necessary, do not deactivate the electronic aids.
The ice, the worst enemy
You can find ice that can be clearly seen, but it can also be present under the snow, which complicates the situation. Keep in mind that in all those places where there is water, if the temperature is below 4ºC, there may be ice.
It is easy for it to be compacted into a lower layer of snow if it has not been removed for long periods of time. In any case, given its existence, the best thing to do is to take into account the advice we have given you and remain calm.
Prevention at the wheel is essential to avoid making mistakes and be able to deal with the ice sheets without problems and without causing a traffic accident. Of course, aside from everything indicated, it is essential that you reduce speed sensibly. Speed is always dangerous but even more so in these circumstances, so try to drive slowly enough to be safe.
Winter tires and chains
In the event that there is a considerable amount of snow, you will have to put snow chains. When you receive the notice of obligation to use from the authorities, you will always have to choose approved snow chains, or make use of some of the existing alternatives.
If you do not carry them as mandatory, you will face possible fines, even if you are left stranded with your car and the agents verify that you did not carry any mandatory measures with you. They are very easy to put on and help to have greater traction, therefore being very useful for you to be able to circulate in these conditions.
In addition to chains, you can use winter tires. These are designed to have a better grip and contribute to a better evacuation of water or snow. They are made of compounds that do not reduce their performance at temperatures below zero and are identified by the initials M+S that appear on their side. These replace strings.
Driving with them is similar to driving in the rain with summer tires. The road will not grip the same and you will have to take into account all the safety measures, but they will help to minimize the possibility of an accident.
