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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for advice about how to get down my snowy drive

36 replies

shinny · 12/12/2022 19:56

Can anyone give me some guidance please?
Steep drive - from bottom to top is about 4ft high - not sure what that is in gradient - car parked wrong way so I need to reverse it within drive to exit onto main road.
Snow is about 2-3 inches thick although I did start clearing today and then stopped as seemed pointless.
I don't have rocksalt but have water softener salt in pastilles (would have to smash it to spread it) or could pour boiling water on ground.

School was not an option today given conditions so we stayed put. Would like to attempt tomorrow as roads look ok but drive frightens me.
Does anyone knowledgeable have any pointers? Would be most grateful.

OP posts:
Dotcheck · 12/12/2022 19:59

Shovel it- do you have sand or old style kitty litter that you could sprinkle on top after you shovel?
Have you got cooking salt? That will work too

saltinesandcoffeecups · 12/12/2022 20:00

Why does it seem pointless to shovel the snow off? Surely that’s the best option.

Shovel then spread salt, it all you have is water softener salt, it will work, just not great.

Don’t bother with boiling water, will need loss and will turn to ice if the temps and ground are frozen.

Original poster
shinny · 12/12/2022 20:00

I have shovelled a bit and yes do have cooking salt. Should I do it tomorrow morning rather than now? Its 0 now and will be slightly colder tomorrow morning.

OP posts:
CrocodilesCry · 12/12/2022 20:01

Please do not use boiled water you'll create a dangerous ice rink.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 12/12/2022 20:01

saltinesandcoffeecups · 12/12/2022 20:00

Why does it seem pointless to shovel the snow off? Surely that’s the best option.

Shovel then spread salt, it all you have is water softener salt, it will work, just not great.

Don’t bother with boiling water, will need loss and will turn to ice if the temps and ground are frozen.

Typos are my friend today apparently

ElbowsandArses · 12/12/2022 20:02

If it’s not been driven on it might not be too bad. Can you park on the road once off? Our drive has gradient and getting off the first time is ok but once compacted and refrozen it’s lethal so once off we stay off until ice/snow melts. Might also be worth clearing some at the bottom of the drive cos that’s where you’ll need to stop. How busy is the road? Can someone else help you get the car off by standing in road and stopping traffic? We are on v quiet road so can do that here. Others will hopefully have better advice!

Original poster
shinny · 12/12/2022 20:02

Ok Thanks for note about boiling water.
I wish I did have sand! Will be using my Cornish cooking salt or smashing the water softener tablets. Should have gone to Homebase before the snow.....

OP posts:
Athenen0ctua · 12/12/2022 20:06

I'd just clear it, I don't understand how it's pointless? If you drive on it then it will be compacted and icy until it melts. Myself and a few neighbours cleared tracks in our whole road on Sunday and it was six inches deep. Two or three inches shouldn't take

Athenen0ctua · 12/12/2022 20:07

...long. Hit post by mistake!

Original poster
shinny · 12/12/2022 20:07

No we have an electric gate that I have to open to exit and then about another 20ft to go down before fairly busy road (although pretty quiet due to weather), Im scared to both hit gate if I slip and then slide down road as school kids passing. OMG maybe I should just stay where I am until it thaws!!!

OP posts:
Octoberflurry · 12/12/2022 20:07

I'd just drive down it slowly if the road looks OK. But I live up north and we are used to it snow here. Maybe unable to get back up but I'd call for some grit salt sand thing while out.

thelobsterquadrille · 12/12/2022 20:08

If it's fresh snow, it may well be okay. Snow is worse when it's been driven on as it turns to ice.

Please don't pour water on your driveway!

Fuuuuuckit · 12/12/2022 20:10

OP can't you walk to take the kids to school?

Original poster
shinny · 12/12/2022 20:10

ok so I will shovel it in the morning and then drive out slowly.
Get sand on way back and spread and that should be ok.

Thanks for helping me get it clear in my mind !

OP posts:
GreenManalishi · 12/12/2022 20:10

Shovel the snow out of the way, see if there's a grit bin on a road nearby you can walk to with a bucket, and spread this on the cleared drive.

Do not throw water on the ground when it's likely to freeze or you'll be on your arse before you can get in the car!

It's a couple of inches of snow, don't be frightened, if the drive is cleared and the road is clear you'll be fine. Go slow, high gear, no sudden braking.

Original poster
shinny · 12/12/2022 20:11

Fuuuuuckit · 12/12/2022 20:10

OP can't you walk to take the kids to school?

Its 11 miles so not really....

OP posts:
LindorDoubleChoc · 12/12/2022 20:11

Yabu.

XmasElf10 · 12/12/2022 20:12

Snow is not difficult to drive on if you take care. Steady is your friend, you don’t want to make wheels spin by going too fast or lock up and slide by braking too quickly. I lived in Oslo for a year and it was completely normal to drive on snow (fresh and compacted) and whilst I did have studded tyres you could still skid if you weren’t sensible. In North Wales I drive when it snows, I worry way more about the other idiots hitting me by driving stupidly than in losing control myself.

Open your gates then reverse off steadily as you normally would, you’ll be fine.

Flapjackquack · 12/12/2022 20:12

Please don’t use boiling water, my neighbour keeps doing it and crossing the pavement by their house has become deadly, just shovel it!

Original poster
shinny · 12/12/2022 20:13

Im not scared of driving on snow per se, its the fact that Im on a steep incline that is unnerving plus the silly gate to open. Ive driven in the Alps and been fine but its just somehow worrying here.

Thanks for all the help and boiling water will def not be used.

OP posts:
LadyEloise1 · 12/12/2022 20:16

Is the slope into the house up or down from the road ?

Merlott · 12/12/2022 20:17

YABU this is not rocket science!

  1. Shovel off as much as you can
  2. Spread grit (salt, sand, gravel, anything you can get)

That's it.

As pp says, it is actually perfectly feasible to drive on snow in all forms...!

The trick is to stay in low gear, low revs, avoid using brakes (slow down by easing off accelerator and changing gear). Generally go slow and avoid any sudden braking or steering!

Nutellanjam · 12/12/2022 20:18

Snow chains. If not and tyres catch on hard snow can try rubber mat right in front of tyre ti try and get it over what Its caught on. Apparently driving off in 2nd gear I’ve heard a few times but I’ve not tried it myself. Also if you do get stuck then tiny, tiny back and forth with tyre can be better than revving and going nowhere

MakeItADouble2 · 12/12/2022 20:20

Shovel enough snow off by where your tyres are so that when you reverse, you don't need to accelerate to go over any high bumps of snow.

BertaHoon · 12/12/2022 20:21

Reverse very slowly down to your gate whilst the snow is fresh. Make that your parking spot.

Then keep that as parking spot and clear pathway with salt to walk up and down with kids.

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