O/T -- Winter Driving tips!!

[bdoyledimou]

With the BIG SNOW that blanketed Southern Ontario today, and teh anticipated repeat on Monday and Weds... i thought i would share some driving tips...

1) DON'T DRIVE if you DON'T HAVE TO... no need for a trip to the mall during storms like this..

2) If you do not have snowtires... get them.. (although thats easier said then done..)

3) Set your car ventilation to the setting that shows both the window defroster AND the foot warmer. This shuts off the cold air intake, allowing the heater to work more efficiently to keep the ice off the windshield.. if it gets stuff, flip it to the defogger for a short time, then switch it back.

4) USE YOUR LOW GEARS. Cars generally have D, 2 and 1 (some have a 3 as well). These gears are high torque gears that apply more power and weight to the front of the car, providing better traction and start up when you apply the gas. It also puts more weight on the engine when you take your foot off the gas, making braking easier.

5) If you have traction control, and are spinning your tires, TURN IT OFF. I know it sounds counter intuitive, but TC is mostly for use on SLICK roads, not 6 inch deep snow.

6) When starting from a stop sign or stop light, lightly tap your gas pedal and release press and release until you get the forward momentum. This will keep you from swerving.

**Note, these suggestions are for front wheel automatic transmission vehicles..

 

[Ham Ham]

Clean off your all of your vehicle surfaces

Winter Tires

Get off the phone

Pay attention to the various road conditions

Have a full tank of gas

Use winter windshield washer fluid

Leave lots of room in front of you

Watch out for the a55hats behind you

All wheel & 4 wheel drive doesn't mean you stop any faster. Please slow down in your giant SUV with the hitch you never use.

Don't depend on public transit

If you are scared to drive in winter weather please stay home

Don't drive in the GTA

 

[candielips]

Clean off your all of your vehicle surfaces

Winter Tires

Get off the phone

Pay attention to the various road conditions

Have a full tank of gas

Use winter windshield washer fluid

Leave lots of room in front of you

Watch out for the a55hats behind you

All wheel & 4 wheel drive doesn't mean you stop any faster. Please slow down in your giant SUV with the hitch you never use.

Don't depend on public transit

If you are scared to drive in winter weather please stay home

Don't drive in the GTA

Don't drive in the GTA

This is a great post, hopefully the drivers who need to read it will, but probably not.

 

[Debbie]

Don't forget to kick the snow off the wheel wells once you are parked. If the well is full and the snow turns to ice . . .

 

[photomama]

Don't drive in the GTA

just move to Calgary from GTA and at least they clean the roads in Ontario..

Great tips!

 

[Mike2023]

I would only turn off your traction control if you know what your doing. Putting your foot on the gas with no TC and spinning your tires in deep snow will just get you stuck, or light snow will have your front end sliding left or right.

 

[dis_guy]

Minus 40 with a wind this morning here in NE Alberta. The land of square tires.

My winter driving tips:

1. If it's that bad, leave the Yaris at home and take the Jeep Commander.

2. If you grew up here, you know all the other rules.

BTW, let the engine warm up with the transmission in "N" will loosen up the drivetrain too.

Keep safe, all.

 

[disneynuts777]

With the BIG SNOW that blanketed Southern Ontario today, and teh anticipated repeat on Monday and Weds... i thought i would share some driving tips...

1) DON'T DRIVE if you DON'T HAVE TO... no need for a trip to the mall during storms like this..

2) If you do not have snowtires... get them.. (although thats easier said then done..)

3) Set your car ventilation to the setting that shows both the window defroster AND the foot warmer. This shuts off the cold air intake, allowing the heater to work more efficiently to keep the ice off the windshield.. if it gets stuff, flip it to the defogger for a short time, then switch it back.

4) USE YOUR LOW GEARS. Cars generally have D, 2 and 1 (some have a 3 as well). These gears are high torque gears that apply more power and weight to the front of the car, providing better traction and start up when you apply the gas. It also puts more weight on the engine when you take your foot off the gas, making braking easier.

5) If you have traction control, and are spinning your tires, TURN IT OFF. I know it sounds counter intuitive, but TC is mostly for use on SLICK roads, not 6 inch deep snow.

6) When starting from a stop sign or stop light, lightly tap your gas pedal and release press and release until you get the forward momentum. This will keep you from swerving.

**Note, these suggestions are for front wheel automatic transmission vehicles..

Great tips!!!!
Now if my employer would only let me stay home(He reasons if he can get there so can you!!!!)
Have a safe and Happy Holiday

p.s- have you seen what they are forcasting for the 27th!!!! At midnight last night they were predicting 35-40cm of snow for the GTA. Now it is half rain and half snow. I wonder when they will know for sure

 

[Ham Ham]

Meanwhile down at the weather office.

If you're don't recognize the above.

Meanwhile down at the weather office.

 

[disneynuts777]

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

great tips everyone!!

I completly agree with the don't drive in the GTA..... we left Guelph on Saturday afternoon to go to the IL's who are in TO and had to make a stop in Miss. at Greenhawk to get ds some new winter riding gloves and couldn't believe how bad the roads still were out there. I guess we 'country bumpkins' here in Guelph are just more used to dealing with snow then the GTA!!