Tips for Young Drivers: How to Drive in a Snowstorm

Driving right into a snowstorm while you're cruising along the interstate can turn things deadly serious in a moment. The idea behind using an interstate highway is to get there fast. That's what I was trying to do the night of Superbowl Sunday, February 3rd. To get myself from Chicago, Illinois to Davenport, Iowa on Interstate 80, fast. It's a distance of 200 miles.

The trip normally me takes 2 3/4 hours. The Illinois landscape is flat as a pancake and the interstate highway is as straight as an arrow. The speed limit is 65 m.p.h. It must be one of the least scenic and most boring drives in the world. Except when a snowstorm hits like the one that hit Superbowl Sunday.

Driving instantly changes from boring to intensely nerve racking and the scenery becomes almost surreal. In a 200 mile stretch of I-80 no fewer than 32 cars and no fewer than13 semi tractor-trailers had slid completely off the Interstate into the median strip ditch or off the right shoulder. No exaggeration. Four of the semis were turned over on their sides. In one 2 mile stretch of Interstate no less than five cars surrendered to the storm. If your going to keep going in these conditions you need special skills not taught in Drivers Ed.

1. In a white out, there won't be a lot of traffic on the Interstate so you won't automatically know how much to slow down. Slow down at least 50% of the speed limit. For example if the limit is 65 mph slow down to 35 mph. tops until you can get a feel for the road conditions. That should be enough to keep you up with the flow of traffic. My top speed during the storm was 43 mph and I hit that only intermittently during long, long stretches of driving 30-37 mph.

2. Keep your tires in the ruts. You'll hardly be able to see where the interstate highway goes let alone see a left lane and the right lane. The ruts will look like railroad tracks. Forget about trying to stay in the right lane or the left lane, stay in the railroad tracks. It's the path of least resistance and where you'll have the best traction. On my snowstorm drive in many places the railroad tracks were right in the middle of the road. In other words everybody was driving single file down the tracks. Do not be bullied into speeding up or bullied off of the tracks by someone tailgating you in these conditions. Just stay calm and ignore them in bad road conditions. If they're in a hurry they should know better and go around you.

3. You will see cars, trucks and SUVs occasionally flying by you. Disregard them. They may have four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicles, studded tires or they may just be reckless. Don't be tempted to match their speed if it's more than 50% of the limit.

4. Semis. Some semi drivers will use the weight of their load and those 16 wheels for traction and will be traveling faster than you. Sometimes a lot faster. Because the snowstorm in effect "narrows" the highway, when semis do pass you they'll often be less than 4 feet from the side of your car as they go by. Slow down a little to gain more control and reaction time but don't hit the breaks or leave the railroad tracks.

5. If cars and trucks are passing you with regularity it means you should be able to see two sets of railroad tracks on the interstate. One set in the right lane and one set in the left lane. If you need to pass a vehicle, first get as close to the rear end of the vehicle you are going to pass as you safely can. In other words don't move into the left lane two blocks before your going to pass someone who is in the right lane. When you do move to the left lane it has to be done gradually, slowly and smoothly. Do not make any severe steering wheel movement while changing lanes. If you are trying to pass someone when the cars on the interstate are traveling single file you do so at your peril. There may not be enough road to the left of the single file of cars to enable you to pass at all. After you pass get back in the right lane as quickly as is safe to do so. The railroad tracks in the right lane will always be better than those on the left.

6. The same rules apply if you are passing a semi but be extra careful that you have enough space on your left to stay completely on the highway as you pass the semi. I passed a semi at one point and while passing I realized that the left side of my car was actually on the left shoulder of the road. I wasn't completely on the highway. Very bad situation. I corrected but wound up passing the semi with only 3 feet between us. One other point about passing semis. Just as you clear the front of the semi you will often take a broadside hit in the form of a strong blast of wind. If you are not ready for it it can throw your car out of control so be ready for it.

7. Be aware that you have almost no brakes. Even if you can see the pavement in the railroad tracks or ruts, you have no brakes. Even if you are in the railroad tracks, in a winter white out you have no brakes. If you have to hit the brakes hard you will lose control period. Avoid any situation where you could potentially have to hit the breaks hard. Find an opportunity to test just how much brakes you have. Don't hit the brakes hard or even sort of hard. Just gradually press down to see what kind of breaking power you have. I regularly tested my breaking ability during this storm. I estimated it was about 20% of normal.

8. If your wipers are not getting the job done do not just pull over. You won't get back out. At the next exit get off and clean your blades. Do it as many times as you have to. I did it 4 times and I have good blades. Lack of visibility can be the straw that broke the camel's back is a driving snowstorm on the interstate.

9. If your going to drive,accept the fact that it will take you as long as it takes you. You'll at least get there. My 2 3/4 hour trip took 6 hours.

10. Know your own limits. Do not attempt driving in blizzard conditions if your not ready for it. These pointers are only something for you to remember if your caught unexpectedly and you have little experience. Blizzards rarely last more than 12 hours. There has been one or two that I've waited out and I've been driving for 40 years, safely I might add. Driving through them is always extremely nerve racking and they leave you drained. Better safe than sorry.