Driving in the snow

[gaz]

What is it with some drivers that have absolutely no idea how to drive in the snow.

I live on an A road on a hill and it's only been a few hours of snow in London and already some idiot in his rear wheel drive merc is trying to get up the hill with the engine revving, but to his surprise he is only going backwards.

If your car is rear wheel drive then you are always going to have issues, but at least get it out of first and use a higher gear to stop those wheels spinning!!

If your car is auto then you should still be able to do gear selections, so use that!

 

[gaz]

I spoke too soon, another idiot riding the curb up the road sideways. This time in a beamer.

 

[gaz]

Buy a 2CV - the ultimate snowmobile!

But to be honest, I've been stuck in a wheelspinning train in Croydon. And Gypsy Hill on a bike's not very easy either...

That's just how the trains roll in Croydon. Gypsy hill isn't easy sans-snow :P

 

[alecstilleyedye]

i was stuck behind a bmw 5 series that couldn't get up the hill. got shoved out of the way

 

[biggs682]

guys it p d bad in wellingborough just done 1.5 miles in car dont ask why .

 

[Globalti]

I bought some winter tyres for Mrs Gti's C1, it was alsways good in snow anyway thanks to the narrow tyres and engine over the driving wheels but now it's unstoppable:

 

[Red Light]

I spoke too soon, another idiot riding the curb up the road sideways. This time in a beamer.

When you've been sold "the ultimate driving machine" you can't comprehend how it can't do everything. Now where's the mode to get it up a one in three sheet of ice?

 

[DiddlyDodds]

What is it with some drivers that have absolutely no idea how to drive in the snow.

I've got news for you , some drivers are just appauling on a dry sunny day, so are staggeringly bad when it snows.

 

[DiddlyDodds]

I've just had a fantastic brain wave ,,,,, if at the front of the car there was a system that fed out a a strip of flexible material that fed under the wheels, and after the rear wheel was scooped it back up back into the bodywork and returned to the front, and had thick insulated sides to keep the warmth in, and a large gun / barrel on the top to blow a path through clowns on hills spinning round in circles foot to the floor and going nowhere.
Ohhh just seen my design on the Discovery channel , i think it was called a Tank.

Last year i had 20 mins of entertainment from a small Gas van outside our house who thought the correct way to get moving, was by sitting in first gear front wheels spinning and engine SCREAMING for 2-3 mins ,, then into reverse and same again , then first , then reverse etc etc .
As time went buy he started to get mad after only moving 2-3 metres and slamming the gears back and forward still with the engine screaming .
After almost 20 mins he eventually wore a path through to the tarmac below to get from the small side road onto the main part where it had grip, i was going to knock on his window and laugh but though he may POP with anger as he was very red and swearing profusely to himself.

 

[vernon]

Buy a 2CV - the ultimate snowmobile!

I managed to get to the Tan Hill Inn in the snow in my 2CV when 'more capable' 4 x 4 vehicles failed. I was hoping to get snowed in for a multiple day drink fest but the snowing slowed down and the snowploughs were out in force after we arrived.

 

[rodgy-dodge]

Holds ones hand up, I can't drive in the stuff!.....So I don't! simple (meerkat squeek)

 

[GrumpyGregry]

as others have said 2CV. I think it was the narrow tyres and lots of weight over the drive wheels. The Fiat chunckychicken I have now comes a close second.

Not driving anywhere today though.... even though it means missing some stuff.

 

[yello]

To be fair, many people have no experience of driving in snow nor are they taught how to. I was one of them.

That's no excuse for not finding out though. I'm sure some folk don't engage brain though before they decide to set off. Personally, I'd prefer some journeys were not made at all but there you go. Someone always needs to drive the half mile to get a paper. They won't walk because, well, it's snow and ice out there isn't it? As if cars are somehow immune to such things.

 

[Red Light]

Take good care Adrian! Tough that you can't use my snow strategy, i.e. don't go out in it.

I think these skills should be part of driver training but most people probably wouldn't take it seriously because, as someone else has said, everyone thinks cars these days are magic and can deal with anything by themselves. I had a go on a skid pan once, as part of some advanced training, it was great fun and very useful.

Its easy to do. Just venture out on a day like today, find a big empty car park and have a practice at driving in the snow. I've tried the skid pan and those cars in frames and while the instruction is useful nothing beats actually having a go on the real stuff, seeing how it feels, finding out what happens at the limits and learning to drive safely.

My tip for getting going/up a hill in slippy conditions? Use your brakes (handbrake for RWD, footbrake for FWD). It works as a crude limited slip differential and stops one drive wheel spinning away and losing you all traction.

 

[2Loose]

Just seen a car slide back down into a parked car while spinning the wheels. The joys of living on the side of a hill. Other vehicles with (perhaps) more experienced drivers have managed fine so far.

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