Driving on Snow and Ice

One peril to living in Alaska that isn't thought much about is how to drive on snow and ice. With snow and ice covering the road from sometimes September to May it is important to know how to safely drive on it. There are many rules to driving on snow and ice, they include:

~ Give yourself plenty of breaking time. Stop time greatly increases when snow and ice become a factor.

~ It is important to remember that even if you have a four-wheel or all wheel drive vehicle this gives you no advantage to slowing down or stopping on snow and ice.

~ When accelerating do so in a smooth and slow motion. The only thing quick acceleration on snow and ice will get you is spinning tires and an angry driver behind you because you have just managed to shower their windshield with sand and pebbles chipping not only their windshield but also their paint job.

~ Never go into a curve having to slow down. Breaking on a curve on snow and ice will cause your vehicle to skid/slide/fishtail or just plain ricochet out from underneath you. You always want to slow down before reaching your curve.

~ Overcorrecting can also lead to a dangerous situation. If you start to skid or slide stay calm and make small, slight corrections. If you panic and overcorrect you will usually send yourself spinning and will have a vehicle that is no longer in your control.

~ Studded tires makes maneuvering on ice easier than non-studded tires, just make sure to change your tires when your winter season is over.

~ Another common problem snow causes is getting your vehicle sucked into a ditch or snow burm, be careful that one tire doesn't get to far into deep snow on the side of the road because this will cause you to get "sucked" into the ditch.

~ Many people forget the laws of inertia when it comes to ice. An object in motion tends to stay in motion, a vehicle doesn't like to stop quickly or turn on ice and when brakes are applied the vehicle tends to slide in a straight, forward motion.

~ Another hidden danger is ice lurking beneath freshly fallen snow; make sure you always know the condition of the roads.

So please remember that when driving on snow and ice to slow down, take your time, stay calm and use your head. Breaks are not your friend, use them wisely.