Travelling to work in snow.

[Toughtips]

How do you non 4wd do it.

I'm worrying about travelling when we get the inevitable snow.

Any tips?

I know how to drive in it etc

Oh good I'm glad.

Cheaper than new winter tyres.

Gonna buy my dad some too.

yaktrax for shoes are good too but not indoors!!!

Congrats on the new job, where are you and do you think snow is inevitable? We are in SE and last year was the first proper snow in five years. What's your job and do you have to be on site to do it, most places around here closed. I have a big 4x4 and I still nearly skidded into a ditch with both kids in the back, so everyone should be prepared no matter what car they drive (goes to check supplies!)

When we had snow last winter, I had to drive in. It’s only a ten minute drive, and I worked nights so didn’t fancy walking aone at close to midnight. The only other car on the road tailgated me and then overtook me on a roundabout

If it snows this time I’ll be walking.

We don't usually get much snow here but last year we had a few bad days.

I'm 25 miles away from work this year (country roads) so I won't be driving in the snow. Even if I got there I'd be worried about getting back.

The best car for driving in snow is something Like a mini - FWD, thin tyres, low to the ground, ie the opposite of a 4x4!

PoutySprout Thats interesting, I will have to tell DH! He uses a mini for the station and last year I remember him telling me that he took most corners without even turning the wheel

We had the beast from the easy last year and we didn't go in (20 miles, country roads). DH boss was fine, my work made me feel bad even though some departments closed! I drove in the next day and lost control on a bend, I managed to correct it but it was scary. DH's SUV had to be dug out but of course the snow "wasn't that bad"...!!

Sorry that doesn't help much, just needed to vent!

A front wheel drive car with snow tyres will often outdo a 4WD or AWD car in snow. The drive to 4 wheels won't help braking or steering. It'll just keep you ploughing on better on the snowy surfaces.

Re. the gears. If you are going downhill you want to be in as low a gear as possible so that you dont use the brakes so much because using them means you are more likely to skid and lose control. For setting off you should be in 2nd gear. Or winter mode if you have an automatic and if there's no winter mode select sport mode as that usually means you need higher revs which means it will set off in 2nd gear rather than first.
Leave a massive gap between you and a car in front. Make sure you have antifreeze and de icer. Some snacks, a spade, warm clothing and some cardboard or rug in case your tyres get stuck in the snow. You wedge the cardboard underneath to five the wheels traction to set off again.

I have a 60 mile commute and I'm also in a new job but basically if i feel too unsafe, im not going.

And yy to front wheel drives!

But you know what really fucks me off? I have worked for 2 large oil and gas companies and 1 big pharma company all of which drill into each and every employee that Health and safety is the top priority. But yet fuck around waiting until roads get very bad with snow, or dark and blizzards and still expect people to work. Getting the "you must make every effort to get to work" schpeel. er how about fuck off. Putting us all on the roads in situations like beast from the east is just ridiculous and they should show a duty of care. Fuckers.

Am I missing something. Is it supposed to snow?

dh's company actively encourages to work from home to safe on heating on bad weather days.
I'm expected to get in no matter what.
but I agree with previous posters - get good all year tyres (or a set of snow tyres to change if in the mountains)

Re gears, in snow you drive at a slow speed in the highest gear your car will manage at that speed, in order to reduce the revs. Then use the gears to reduce speed instead of braking, as far as possible.

Sticking in low gears makes skidding more likely.

@OhYouBadBadKitten sorry to hijack but how inevitable is snow this year, at chance of a return of the beast??

Work is 11 miles away for me I drove in the snow a few yeArs ago it took me two hours and was incredibly stressful. I arrived at work exit and burst into tears. Decided there and then I wasn't doing that again.

Last winters snow stopped all public transport and the nearest bus station is a mile away so couldn't even walk there as the snow was so deep you couldn't see where and what you were walking through.

HAte it

Get snow tyres. Leave earlier, drive slower, don't turn the wheel quickly, don't accelerate quickly and don't brake hard.

If you hit ice, hope for the best and don't panic.

It's not difficult, people just act like it's a tragedy. It's easy enough and you don't need 4wd. I've driven in the Highlands and all over Scotland in a hatchback for 10 years and only struggled once in Dundee when the snow was feet deep everywhere, think that was 2010 when we had a really bad winter. But I still got that car to the shops and back, up and down very steep hills. Only grounded it on our side street because no plough had come along it.

It's definitely low gear downhill.
Clear the snow completely off your car.
Don't follow other vehicles tyre tracks.
Our local farmers clear all the roads round here bless 'em.

I don’t travel to work in the snow. If there is snow (as in lots) work would close.

If your car has traction control, it can help turn it off if you need to go uphill, so make sure you know how to do this. My previous car was just a button on the dashboard, but it is within menu options on the computer in my current one so not possible to change when driving.

As soon as the car is moving get into second gear and keep the revs high.

Low gear going down hill - literally crawl down in first or second.

Uphill, try to keep moving. Leave plenty of room from the car in front so if they get stuck you can keep going and go round them as long as nothing is coming down.

But if you can work from home, think ahead. If snow is forecast, and you can take your laptop and any notes etc home, do so and tell your boss that you will be working from home rather than sit in traffic for hours and risking an accident or getting stuck if the weather is bad.

Also encourage your workplace to have a good snow plan, with people working from home where possible, but also increase the chance of essential staff getting in safely with car pool arrangements using any available 4x4s.

I braved getting to work in bad snow one year, got there on public transport and was super late in. Weather then took a turn for the worse and it took me 5 HOURS to walk home. Never ever again. I'm all for a snow day now.