During the coldest months of the year, especially in mountainous areas, snow and ice can catch us by surprise while driving. Traffic authorities advise checking the weather information and the state of the roads before starting the journey and assessing the need to make the trip we had planned.
Even so, if inclement weather crosses our path we must exercise extreme caution and adapt our speed to the adverse conditions. The main effect of driving on ice or snow is the increase in braking distance due to reduced grip, Pons Seguridad Vial, the leading road training publisher in Spain, highlights in its blog. It can be up to 10 times more compared to a dry road, to which is added the danger due to slipping and loss of steering control.
According to Fernando Solas, training director at Pons Seguridad Vial, the fall of the first snowflakes and the formation of ice when temperatures drop below 4ºC in humid or rainy conditions are two especially dangerous moments behind the wheel. Likewise, he advises paying attention when entering and exiting tunnels, shadow areas, crossing bridges and wet areas.
To contribute to safer driving on ice or snow, the editorial debunks some of the main myths that tend to prevail regarding the strategies and precautions necessary in these types of weather conditions. We review them below.
Fake. A sudden change in temperature can cause the windshield to break, especially if it is damaged due to an impact. The best thing is to start the car, turn on the heating by sending the air towards the windshield and remove the ice from the glass with a scraper or a plastic element that we have on hand, such as a bank card.
Fake. With hot air, the ice on the glass will go away sooner, although it must be taken into account that if the air is very hot it can break it. The best option is to start the vehicle and direct the hot air towards the windshield because the engine has not reached that temperature yet.
Fake. This practice harms the engine because all the internal mechanisms are not well lubricated.
Fake. The same thing happens as when the first drops of rain fall. The mixture of water, dust and grease that forms on the pavement when the snow is freshly fallen turns the asphalt into a very slippery track.
Fake. You have to do the opposite. That is, accelerate gently with the wheels in a straight line using second gear and release the clutch very slowly, maintaining smooth and constant acceleration. The steering should not be moved until the vehicle is moving.
Fake. With current injection engines this practice has become obsolete. It is best to drive gently for the first few kilometres.
Fake. You must drive slowly to use the service brake as little as possible, preferably using the engine brake. But when it is necessary to reduce speed and the engine brake is not enough, the foot brake will be braked gently.
Fake. Winter tires and chains improve the grip of the vehicle, but we cannot allow ourselves to be carried away by this false sense of security. These tires have less grip compared to a dry road, so extreme safety must be taken even when the car is wearing them.
Fake. While it is true that on descending slopes we must descend slowly, with low gears to take advantage of the effect of the engine braking, the opposite happens on ascending sections. In these situations, you must climb slowly and at a sustained speed and in the highest gear ratio possible.
Fake. Fog lights should be used when there are meteorological or environmental conditions that reduce visibility in the event of snowfall.
