The predicted snow shower is now also affecting Groningen. That makes driving quite treacherous. Tips (from the ANWB, among others) for driving in slippery conditions and snow.
Keep your distance
Make sure you have extra space on the road in front of you and control your braking. Those few extra meters give more time to respond to unexpected events. Don’t hang on someone’s bumper because you’re in a hurry. The same applies to inserting. Take the time and space to merge calmly and at an appropriate speed.
Look far ahead of you
Look far ahead and you will usually steer in the right direction. And that also works better if you do not drive too close behind the vehicle in front. Every second and meter counts if you unexpectedly end up in a skid.
Take off slowly
Sometimes accelerating from a standstill is immediately a slip. Driving away in pairs can help. Give it little gas and release the clutch very gently. This is also possible in first gear. Try to do all your actions in a controlled and calm manner. Steer evenly, do not brake abruptly. Do not steer into bends too sharply. It is sometimes better to switch off safety systems such as ESC (ESP) when accelerating from a standstill on slippery surfaces. They can actually make driving off in the snow more difficult. As soon as you drive, immediately switch ESC (ESP) back on.
Brakes: sometimes hard
If you have to make an emergency stop, you want the ABS (anti-lock braking system) to function optimally. So don’t always ‘pump’ the brakes. ABS only works if you keep the brake pressure high. Press the brake and clutch hard – preferably at the same time. Don’t be alarmed if your brake pedal starts to vibrate or if you hear strange noises. ABS ensures that your wheels keep turning (anti-locking). This allows you to continue steering if necessary.
Brakes: sometimes not at all
Sometimes it is better not to brake at all in slippery conditions. In bends, for example. Release the gas in time to slow down, well before the bend. In slippery conditions, only accelerate again when you have exited the bend. If you have not judged the bend correctly and you see the guardrail coming towards you, stay calm. Don’t suddenly change the wheel. It is better to let the car slide along the guardrail and calmly turn your steering wheel in the correct direction of travel. As soon as you regain control, you will automatically go in the right direction again. Sliding along the guardrail is unpleasant, but it can also help get your car back on track. You certainly don’t want to throw the wheel and end up on the other side of the road. (More tips below the photo)
Stay alert, even with winter tires
Winter tires are not a total solution for winter problems. If you drive twice as fast, your braking distance is normally four times as long. This is further enhanced in slippery conditions. Winter tires may have a shorter braking distance than summer tires, but if you drive fast this effect is completely canceled out. ANWB: driving in slippery conditions
Fable
Myth: lowering tire pressure would help with slippery conditions. The tires therefore make more contact with the road and that should result in extra grip. Unfortunately: tires that are too weak are at the expense of stability. The softer structure of winter tires only makes this worse. For winter tires to function optimally, the correct tire pressure is even more important.
More tips
For example on Autowereld.com , the online magazine of car enthusiasts, also contains numerous tips. A selection from that:
1) Remove as much snow as possible from your car before departure with a soft brush. So not only the windows, but also the hood and the front (because this can blow onto the windshield), the mirrors, the roof and the flanks. Those behind you will thank you.
2) There is not much point in letting the car warm up for fifteen minutes or even longer before you leave. The engine hardly warms up and it is particularly bad for the environment.
3) Because you drive slower (on average), your journey will take longer than usual. Take this into account and therefore leave home earlier, because a hurried driving style never actually yields anything. Especially not in this weather.
4) Don’t assume that road conditions are the same everywhere. Any bridge, intersection or side street can be much slippery than you expect. So don’t rely on your experiences during the past few kilometers, but treat every new situation with renewed attention.
5) Try to drive consistently. This gives you, as the driver of the car, but also the vehicle(s) behind you, more peace of mind, which is safer. Extremely cautious or panicky driving behavior is more likely to lead to dangerous situations.
6) Try to ‘feel’ your car. The information that the wheels transmit tells you a lot about the condition of the road surface. Small obstacles, side steps and the like give you a good indication of the passability of the road you are driving on.