1 post tagged “winter driving”

With winter driving upon us, getting stuck in the snow is a legitimate concern for drivers in the colder states. Getting stuck can ruin a person’s day! It’s also extremely frustrating. Luckily, there are several ways you prevent getting stuck. There are also things you can do to get unstuck from snow, in most instances.

Getting your car out of snow could be as simple as rocking the car back and forth. Put the car in “Drive” and push on the accelerator. Lift your foot from the accelerator and put the car in “Reverse” when the tires come to a stop. Repeat this several times quickly to rock the car back.

It also helps to turn the steering wheel slightly to give the car more traction. If you feel like the car is making progress, keep trying this method. If it feels like it’s not moving at all or digging deeper into the snow, try something else.
Getting your car out of a snow bank or an icy spot is less difficult if you have some simple items with you. A bag of salt is ideal, because it melts the snow and ice underneath your tires in a matter of minutes.

Be sure to have a shovel in your car, too. Many times, you can dig your tire out of a small pile of snow by simply shoveling away the snow that surrounds the wheels. If you don’t have salt or a shovel, anything that provides friction between your tire and the slippery snow helps. Cat litter is helpful, but dirt or a scrap piece of carpet works, too.

If these methods fail, you may need to depend on the kindness of people. A car stuck in the snow often brings out the helpful side of strangers, and they might get stop to help push your car out of the snow. Be sure everyone is behind the car while you’re in “Drive”, but don’t press on the accelerator too much. This throws snow into your heroes' faces, and it also makes the snow beneath the tires melt and turn to ice.
 
If all else fails, a tow truck is your last resort.
 
Prevent getting stuck in the snow in the first place. Four-wheel drive vehicles get stuck fewer times than two-wheel drive models. It's more difficult for front-wheel drive cars to get stuck in the snow and ice. Mercedes vehicles are available in both categories.

You can also add some extra weight to your vehicle. Put bags of salt or sand in your trunk or in the bed of your truck. This gives your vehicle more traction on snowy surfaces and reduces your chance of slipping stuck.
 
Finally, drive carefully. Look for potential problems and try to avoid them at all costs. Driving slower also helps avoid getting stuck. Wintertime driving takes caution, as getting stuck in the snow is one of the minor events that can happen on the icy roads.