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Original poster

Driving in the snow how

50 replies

Mickeyfish · 03/12/2023 07:11

I've got a 2 hour drive back home today that I have to do as been away for the night we have snow landed in both places im at and need to be . Any tips please im dreading driving specially with the kids also

OP posts:
margotrose · 03/12/2023 07:25

If you don't feel confident driving then you're better off staying where you are.

The roads where I am are blocked with abandoned cars but we did have extreme amounts of snow.

Notcookie · 03/12/2023 07:33

Make sure your tyres have enough tread. Check your oil etc to avoid breakdowns.

Drive in a high gear if you have a manual car to avoid skidding. If you skid you steer into the turn. Go slowly, brake smoothly.

PenelopeTheShroudWeaver · 03/12/2023 07:34

First off, make sure your car is ready to be driven. Clear the snow off your roof and windscreen, de-ice all windows and the wing mirrors. Get drinks and snacks in case you end up stuck in heavy traffic and check you have plenty of fuel.

Then, take your time. If there is still snow on the road surface it will affect your capacity to manoeuvre and brake quickly. Leave plenty of space between yourself and the car in front, drive more slowly than you normally would and avoid using the brakes (instead, anticipate as much as you can and slow down by working down the gears)

If it looks too treacherous (stranded cars, blizzard conditions etc), do not attempt the journey and find a hotel!

flowerchild2000 · 03/12/2023 07:42

It's a lot like driving in heavy rain except it can be 100x more slippery depending on conditions. Have your lights on even if it's daytime, go slow, try not to brake hard ever, if it gets too hard to see pull over somewhere safe to wait it out. If your car is underpowered it might be hard to drive and get stuck. You can move the wheel left and right just a bit going slowly to get unstuck, like driving in a zig zag. Honestly if it's bad like pp said just stop and stay in a hotel and wait it out. Last year I was forced by my job to drive in a blizzard and it took hours where it usually takes a few minutes, and there many cars along the way that had flown off the road. I'm experienced in snow but I was kind of terrified. If it's scary just don't do it.

FinanceLPlates · 03/12/2023 07:50

I wouldn’t drive in your situation, and I have a lot of experience of driving on snow, having lived in countries where snow is a regular occurrence, and many people drive in it.

However, unlike in the UK,

  • winter tyres are compulsory for all road users
  • there’s extensive infrastructure to grit and clear roads quickly
  • other drivers are experienced driving in snow

In the UK (apart from maybe in parts of Scotland) snow is much more of a rare occurrence hence it causes chaos quickly. You don’t just need to worry about your own ability to drive in snow but everyone around you too. There’s likely to be abandoned vehicles and collisions and a lack of emergency vehicle support. If at all possible, I wouldn’t risk it, especially with children in the car.
Can you extend your stay at all? What’s the forecast for the next few days where you are?

cheezncrackers · 03/12/2023 07:54

If you feel like you do OP and have no or minimal experience of driving in snow - stay where you are. Safety should always come first, particularly when you'll have your DC in the car. And I say that as someone who's driven a lot in snow.

The only caveat to that would be - if the roads are clear and have been gritted overnight and there has been no more snow since then - you may find that the conditions are okay. But if there is fresh snow on the roads, stay where you are. It's not just your driving you have to worry about - it's all the other idiots who can't drive in snow who might crash into you!

Waxdrip · 03/12/2023 07:56

I wouldn't do it, especially with children. Next time you change your tyres buy all weather ones, which are safer in rain as well as snow.

Beck30 · 03/12/2023 07:56

Accelerate and brake gradually. If approaching a bend, slow down earlier than you would normally, preferably by taking your foot off the accelerator and maybe changing down a gear, rather than by using the brakes.

InTheRainOnATrain · 03/12/2023 08:00

I probably wouldn’t. The UK doesn’t have any traction laws and people don’t have much/any experience of snow driving so unless you’re sure the roads will be clear and gritted as you’ve spoken to neighbours then I’d delay by a day. When I lived in a cold weather country you had to have winter tires or AWD on all seasons, roads were usually cleared quickly and people were pretty used to it so it wasn’t the danger that it is here.

cheezncrackers · 03/12/2023 08:04

A few pointers in case you decide to go anyway:

  • Ideally, you'll be driving a front-wheel or all-wheel drive car as this gives you better traction;
  • Ideally you'll have all-weather tires, or at least reasonably new tires with plenty of tread on them;
  • Keep your revs low, as this prevents the car from running away with you;
  • Use the engine braking, rather than the brake pedal (i.e. take your foot off the accelerator to slow down, rather than using the brakes, if you're driving a manual, change down);
  • When you need to brake, do so gently, you don't want to brake suddenly as you're much more likely to lose the back end of the car, skid and end up in a ditch;
  • If you feel the car skidding, turn the wheel the opposite direction to the one you automatically would aka 'turning into the skid', it will stop the car spinning.
FiveShelties · 03/12/2023 08:06

What is the forecast like? Is it absolutely essential that you get home?

It us really tough driving in snow and ice, the slightest bit of heavy braking or over steering can get you in real trouble. You also need to have a plan if you need to abandon your vehicle. I used to live in the Staffordshire Moorlands and wow did it snow there.

Forestdweller11 · 03/12/2023 08:19

Check AA roadwatxh for road closures. Plus do the local council have a website which shows roads hate have been gritted? Ours does plus has live feed cameras on tricky roads/ hills.

Drive in daylight if you can.
Drive slower than you would normally, try and relax though! And don't crawl along!
Pack snacks/water - the journey will likely take you longer than normal.
Make sure car is full of fuel and washers topped up.
Mobiles fully charged.
Too late for you but snow tyres are fabulous for non 4wd cars.
If your journey is long and you can't delay pack a shovel, a bag of grit and some blankets as well.
Plan in regular stops esp if it's hairy.

Main message is If you don't have to travel, don't.

When driving leave extra space, on snow covered roads esp hills be in a higher gear than normal (don't stall!), accelerate slowly from a stop. If on a dual carriageway /motorway and snow is covering one or more of the lanes don't go onto these lanes unless you can't help it - the snow will likely grab/snatch and you'll get unwelcome feedback through the steering wheel and wheels may start to spin.
Use gears to slow rather than brakes.
Most main roads and some side roads will have been gritted several times, it will be local b roads and roads on housing estates that probably haven't been.

pickledandpuzzled · 03/12/2023 08:32

I’m imagining it’s not that bad where you are- or you’d know to stay put.

Excellent advice above. Driving with accelerator rather than brakes is good practice anyway and saves your tyres/brakes and pollution!

Take your time. Stop often for a rest.

Start out a bit later- let other people clear the roads for you!

Weird thing to be aware of if it snows while you’re driving! Your brain makes patterns of the snowfall. It sees ghosts drift across the road, or things out of the corner of your eye. It’s really easy to distinguish once you’ve realised what’s happening, but your first time you may notice that you can almost see something- but it’s not there. Don’t let it distract you.

Giggorata · 03/12/2023 08:39

The only thing I have to add to the good advice above is that I try and do everything in slow motion when I'm driving in snow and ice: changing gear, steering, accelerating and decelerating.
I find that it also keeps me calm when driving in bad conditions.

Panderoo · 03/12/2023 08:47

I would look at the entire route, it really may be best to stay where you are. I have heard about hundreds of cars abandoned in Cumbria. What’s the route you need to take?

DreamItDoIt · 03/12/2023 08:52

What cheese said a few posts ago. Plus, sounds obvious, but make sure you have clothes/blankets to keep warm in case you get stuck and a full tank of fuel.

daisidoo · 03/12/2023 08:52

If you’re not confident don’t do it.

JamieKnows · 03/12/2023 08:52

If you're in the south lakes just bloody stay there. The gritters can't get out cause of knobheads determined to drive unnecessarily

flowerchild2000 · 03/12/2023 09:04

FinanceLPlates · 03/12/2023 07:50

I wouldn’t drive in your situation, and I have a lot of experience of driving on snow, having lived in countries where snow is a regular occurrence, and many people drive in it.

However, unlike in the UK,

  • winter tyres are compulsory for all road users
  • there’s extensive infrastructure to grit and clear roads quickly
  • other drivers are experienced driving in snow

In the UK (apart from maybe in parts of Scotland) snow is much more of a rare occurrence hence it causes chaos quickly. You don’t just need to worry about your own ability to drive in snow but everyone around you too. There’s likely to be abandoned vehicles and collisions and a lack of emergency vehicle support. If at all possible, I wouldn’t risk it, especially with children in the car.
Can you extend your stay at all? What’s the forecast for the next few days where you are?

I withdraw my advice and I stand with this 100% I'm in a mountain town in the US where we get blizzards every year. It's still pretty crazy driving. I usually wait until the city has plowed. I've also been in snow in Texas where they aren't used to it, and that is just downright dangerous. I absolutely never drove during that time for all the reasons quoted above. This is by far the best advice possible.

Dbank · 03/12/2023 09:04

Too late for today, but for future planning....

Know whether your car is front, rear or all wheel drive as they behave differently in snow and it's worth taking time to understand the differences.

If you get stuck, what would you wish you had with you?

  1. Warm clothing and gloves in the car, (EG old puff jacket stuffed in the wheel well).

  2. Three hazard warning flashy lights , one on the car, on up the road, one down the road. Further than you think, especially on a corner.

  3. High viz jackets, enough for passengers.

  4. Bottle of water and a Torch

Hopefully you'll never need any of it, personally I had a bad prang and wished I had 2 & 3 which I now always carry.

Finteq · 03/12/2023 09:07

Beck30 · 03/12/2023 07:56

Accelerate and brake gradually. If approaching a bend, slow down earlier than you would normally, preferably by taking your foot off the accelerator and maybe changing down a gear, rather than by using the brakes.

Edited

You know I read so many posts about going down gears to break- genuinely how are people with automatics supposed to do this?

turkeyboots · 03/12/2023 09:07

If you have a rear wheel drive car, just stay put. They are much more difficult to drive in the snow.

keye · 03/12/2023 09:09

You know I read so many posts about going down gears to break- genuinely how are people with automatics supposed to do this?

They can't. They don't have the gears available.

keye · 03/12/2023 09:10

Posted too soon, you can however take your foot off the accelerator a lot earlier than you would normally so you slow down naturally rather then applying the brakes close to a junction etc.

Polis · 03/12/2023 09:10

They can't. They don't have the gears available.

Mine can. So can my husband’s.

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