I could do with a couple of links to advice/general information in regard to advanced driving in the winter.

Nothing that will be blatant copyright infringement but stuff which is widely available would be cool. If you feel like hammering down your own thoughts about winter advanced driving into text, draft something out and feel free to PM me.

Cheers

I could do with a couple of links to advice/general information in regard to advanced driving in the winter.

Nothing that will be blatant copyright infringement but stuff which is widely available would be cool. If you feel like hammering down your own thoughts about winter advanced driving into text, draft something out and feel free to PM me.

Cheers

Driving in winter is the same as driving at any other time of year from an advanced driving point of view.

Drive to the conditions at the time, plan as far ahead as possible and try to anticipate other drivers intentions as soon as possible.

Frost and black ice a possibility? Drive smoothly with no harsh acceleration, braking or steering (even smoother than usually expected) as not to unbalance the vehicle and reduce your speed to the conditions.

Driving on snow is the same but try to drive using as high a gear as possible, while still maintaining flexibility of drive, and use engine braking to slow down only using the brakes very gently from being almost stopped to halt the vehicle fully. ( does that make sense?)

Following in the tracks made by all the other cars that have driven the road will give you less grip than driving on fresh snow. Try to drive on the fresh stuff where possible. Difficult I know but going off line by as little as 6 inches can find some.

Hope I've helped a little and I suspect others will be along shortly to impart more

Another reason not to use the tracks of others..... They may lead to a ditch or tree etc :lol:

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How about things to carry with you.

i.e.

Hot drink & food

Shovel

Sleeping bag/blankets

Fluorescent jacket

(winter tyres of course :lol:)

Phone charger

The list could go on and on......

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How about things to carry with you.

i.e.

Hot drink & food

Shovel

Sleeping bag/blankets

Fluorescent jacket

(winter tyres of course :lol:)

Phone charger

The list could go on and on......

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yup, I agree with that

Yup, I agree with that

and let's not forget, check the current and forecast conditions before you set out and consider whether your journey is actually necessary or could be put off for a while. And just as important as winter tyres - proper footwear in case you have to get out of the vehicle for any reason.

Twitter is an excellent source of travel and traffic news. Drives me nuts when they say on TV "check with your BBC local radio" when so much of the country has no BBC local radio :wonder:

How about things to carry with you.

i.e.

(winter tyres of course :lol:)

I hope you're not carrying the winter tyres????.....you should have them fitted BEFORE winter!!!

I always have a full 2.5lt bottle of made up screenwash, old large curtain, big led Maglite, folding Shovel, first aid kit, winter hiking boots, and other basics as above mentioned ontop of the usuall incar kit that I always carry!

Try to drive smoother than usuall as this helps with the traction/prevention of skidding.....also powering out (adding more to) of a corner when you are losing traction can give better results than just going around under minimal power....it's all very subjective and requires practice etc!

Edited 31 October, 201114 yr by fabdavrav

I hope you're not carrying the winter tyres????.....you should have them fitted BEFORE winter!!!

I always have a full 2.5lt bottle of made up screenwash, old large curtain, big led Maglite, folding Shovel, first aid kit, winter hiking boots, and other basics as above mentioned ontop of the usuall incar kit that I always carry!

Try to drive smoother than usuall as this helps with the traction/prevention of skidding.....also powering out (adding more to) of a corner when you are losing traction can give better results than just going around under minimal power....it's all very subjective and requires practice etc!

and avoid BMWs and Mercs unles syou know they have winter tyres on

I really do wish it snowed like it did last year, i went to work one day in flip flops and shorts as a joke, and come to think of it, i didn't have a shovel, drinks, torch, hiking boots etc etc, only a hoody on the back seat.

i embarked on a 32miles drive to work in the thickest day of all. and survived, in a car with summer tyres and FWD.

call it stupid, call it lucky, i call it good judgement and driving skill.

as i say Scout Motto 'Be Perpared'

Edited 3 November, 201114 yr by Sonner

There are many things that can be carried just in case, most of which will never be used. I generally have a spade, warm clothes, good boots, screen wash, torch and a few other odds and sods in the car over the winter. Have only had to use the spade once and the rest never (yet!!) but will still put them in as a just in case.

I started driving in the north of Scotland and did my test in the snow (made revesing round the corner interesting as I couldn't see the kerb, but then neither could the examiner!!). There is no magic formula to winter driving most of it is common sense. In no particular order, just ff the top of me head:

1. Allow extra space for braking.

2. Smooth acceleration and braking.

3. Use as high a gear as possible.

4. Plan your route and journey.

5. Look at the forecast.

6. If it is bad and you can avoid driving, the don!

5. Braking and steering don't mix, the front wheels need power to add direction.

6. Traction control is only so good.

7. If the wheels are spinning then more throttle is not the answer

8. No matter how good your winter driving is, you may had chains/socks/4x4 but if the road is blocked by others you ain't going anywhere!!