I don't think total confidence is a good thing when it comes to driving, particularly in poor weather. I drive 60 miles per day in all weather and have never bothered with snow tyres. Touch wood, I've never had an accident and although I consider myself a competent driver, there has been a certain amount of luck on occasion. Anyone can fall fowl to black ice so I am never 100% confident. Not to mention the fact that every time you go out on the road, you share it with a whole bunch of numpties who insist on learning how to drive the hard way!

This year I’m going armed with four wheel drive, new tyres and a big shovel )

Edited 18 December, 201114 yr by VRSPhil

I love driving in the snow, doesn't worry me at all. Keep my speed down, treat the car controls very gently, be aware of what's happening around you and exercise caution and you can't really go too wrong. Having a low value, easy to fix rear wheel drive car adds to the experience.

First 12 years behind wheel were all in rear wheel drive . On subject of HI VIZ - beware the cheaper ones - the reflective strips aint all that good .On a decent set - you should be able to see reflective strips at more than 100yds with a large handlamp . We had a breakdown in daylight on M6 some years ago with me & mrs on verge ,well away from traffic . Traffic car stopped to check us out . His first comments were that he was pleasantly surprised as he could see us from a good distance away .

Edit -suggest if carrying fluids eg water -o it in a thermos flasc .

Edited 18 December, 201114 yr by VWD

not hugely confident - though i learnt to drive in the depths of winter and was taken on some roads and areas that resulted in squeaky bum syndrome.

Having lost control at relatvively low speeds on snow/ice, i'm very wary.

Even SWMBO's Discovery with BFG AT/MT tyres all round didn't make me feel any better yesterday on untreated roads.

The snow doesnt bother me at all, I just take my time, keep plenty of distance and use the gears to slow the car rather than the brakes.

I feel pretty confident in the snow and ice. The car helps (4x4) as do winter tyres.

I remember picking up the car from the dealer last year and driving out to see clients. I got out of car and couldn't stand up and had to hold onto the car to dtay upright! but the car was brilliant, no slipping etc. it was compacted snow turned into ice.

I now have some things from ICE Grippers which you put on your shoes, a little like snow chains which should do wonders for walking on ice.

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Voted 50/50. I am very confident in my own abilities, however it's other peoples' abilities which concerns me. So with that in mind, I do cut down on my driving and only make necessary journeys, but only because there's no point putting myself at risk of other peoples' mistakes if I don't need to. If it was only me on the road then I'd be out whatever the weather though, as I have been for the past couple of winters.

i was out with the other half on Saturday and the roads were icy as heck, he has a Passat PD130 with winter tyres on the front, its just amazing the difference in confident levels, if i was behind the wheel i would of gone half the speed he was doing and he was not going fast but i just picture the car sliding out of control and thats enough for me to drive like miss daisy.

Its not the fear of driving on ice its the element of having no control once the car slides beyond a certain point.

Strange to see how everyones attitude to driving changes though, in the summer or anything other then snow/ice, everyone feels the can defend for themselfs but when roads get a little slippy everyone packs together in groups as though its a safety net, even i do it, just incase something happens, someone will be there (hopefully) to help

I'd be very wary of a car with winters on one axle only, it means one end of the car has lots more grip than the other. It can mean the back end quickly overtakes the front!

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thats how he likes it haha he does have exceptional car control

I'm pretty comfortable in the snow. I've had to do it every year I've been driving.

Right now I'd not go out unless it's an emergency. Rail fell all day onto frozen ground and the paths and roads around me are all covered in black ice. That's not drivable imho.

thats how he likes it haha he does have exceptional car control

Oh dear :(

Anyway, I'd say I was a 50/50 too. I don't get all twitchy bumed about the idea of driving in the snow but when the white stuff is around I am very cautious.

Edited 20 December, 201114 yr by lordrobs

Oh dear :(

Anyway, I'd say I was a 50/50 too. I don't get all twitchy bumed about the idea of driving in the snow but when the white stuff is around I am very cautious.

whats the oh dear for?

once thing iv noticed which i should of a really expected, there were more gritters out when there was only a warning of ice/snow...now we it, there no where to be seen!

I'm pretty comfortable in the snow. I've had to do it every year I've been driving.

Right now I'd not go out unless it's an emergency. Rail fell all day onto frozen ground and the paths and roads around me are all covered in black ice. That's not drivable imho.

Couple of weeks back before the snow I was out driving, no issues at all on my Vredesteins. Parked up at Sainsburys completely unaware that the car park I'd driven on was covered in black ice. Fell flat on my back. Driveable yes, walkable no

:wonder:

Couple of weeks back before the snow I was out driving, no issues at all on my Vredesteins. Parked up at Sainsburys completely unaware that the car park I'd driven on was covered in black ice. Fell flat on my back. Driveable yes, walkable no

:wonder:

i did same thing a few days ago, i didt quiet fall as i grabbed onto the car, them spoilers are pretty well bolted in

whats the oh dear for?

once thing iv noticed which i should of a really expected, there were more gritters out when there was only a warning of ice/snow...now we it, there no where to be seen!

The oh dear was because no matter how pro your driving skills are when the back steps out because you have twice the grip at the front on an icy road you may well be able to correct it, the question is can you do so before you take out a row of parked cars? Coupled with your comments about his speed in poor driving conditions it does get the alarm bells ringing.

I like many of us have done the empty frozen car park thing and I found that I was actually pretty good at correcting a slide in controlled conditions, how I would do when the situation isn't of my own making on the public road is another matter.

Oh dear :(Anyway, I'd say I was a 50/50 too. I don't get all twitchy bumed about the idea of driving in the snow but when the white stuff is around I am very cautious.

whats the oh dear for?

I think it might be because it makes your partner sound cocky, rather than respectful of the conditions. He might be very good, yes, but things can still happen which take anyone by surprise. No one wants to read a thread about how you were in the car with your boyfriend and he lost the back in an unrecoverable snap due to having too much grip at the front, is all.

Personally I'd rather have matched grip all round, whether that be on my summers or on winters, or if I absolutely had to then winters on the rear only because I've got no other (i.e. direct) control over the rear axle. At least with less grip on the front, I'm going to understeer which is usually more predictable to control than oversteer (especially in ice and trying to guess how the car will snap back), and I'll lose control more gradually which would be an extra hint that I'm going too fast for the conditions.

The oh dear was because no matter how pro your driving skills are when the back steps out because you have twice the grip at the front on an icy road you may well be able to correct it, the question is can you do so before you take out a row of parked cars? Coupled with your comments about his speed in poor driving conditions it does get the alarm bells ringing.

I like many of us have done the empty frozen car park thing and I found that I was actually pretty good at correcting a slide in controlled conditions, how I would do when the situation isn't of my own making on the public road is another matter.

I think it might be because it makes your partner sound cocky, rather than respectful of the conditions. He might be very good, yes, but things can still happen which take anyone by surprise. No one wants to read a thread about how you were in the car with your boyfriend and he lost the back in an unrecoverable snap due to having too much grip at the front, is all.

Personally I'd rather have matched grip all round, whether that be on my summers or on winters, or if I absolutely had to then winters on the rear only because I've got no other (i.e. direct) control over the rear axle. At least with less grip on the front, I'm going to understeer which is usually more predictable to control than oversteer (especially in ice and trying to guess how the car will snap back), and I'll lose control more gradually which would be an extra hint that I'm going too fast for the conditions.

i didt say he was going fast, the point i was making is that i would go half the speed, be it his 30 to my 15mph, didt say anything about speeding.

well without sounding like i have to fight anyone battles, i dont, but with him been a regular at the Nurburgring and owning a TVR which are notorious for trying to to kill the driver, he aint crashed it yet and to say its twitchy is the understatement of the year i trust him completely behind the wheel and thats pretty much a first for me.

iv got winters all round, but he chooses not to, so far hasn't crashed but ill keep you updated

No one said "he is going to crash". But as they say, pride goeth before a fall. TVRs might be notorious for trying to kill the driver, but snow and ice are still several times more dangerous

i wouldt be so sure, its a close call

Back on topic, has anyone seen any proper snow yet? we have a miserable attempt but nothing decent

Nah. Was a dusting on my car roof in Nottingham about a week or two ago. But it was less dense than the icing sugar on top of a supermarket mince pie, nowt to get excited about.

Cant believe how mind this winter has been up to now compared to past few years..first time i have bothered with winter tyres and i possibly could of got away with it up to now

whats the oh dear for?

once thing iv noticed which i should of a really expected, there were more gritters out when there was only a warning of ice/snow...now we it, there no where to be seen!

Simply because once there is snow on the ground spreading road salt is inefficient, because as the snow melts it dissolves the salt and it flows away, down the drain.

Salt is best spread on a slightly damp road just before it freezes, as this stops the ice forming.

Simply because once there is snow on the ground spreading road salt is inefficient, because as the snow melts it dissolves the salt and it flows away, down the drain.

Salt is best spread on a slightly damp road just before it freezes, as this stops the ice forming.

This is what i mean, we have not seen any proper snow yet but lots of ice. Over the past 3 weeks of icy nights iv seen gritters out on 2 maybe 3 nights and that was there was a warning of possible ice, not actual ice

This is what i mean, we have not seen any proper snow yet but lots of ice. Over the past 3 weeks of icy nights iv seen gritters out on 2 maybe 3 nights and that was there was a warning of possible ice, not actual ice

been 4 or 5 separate days of snow so far here with plenty ice in between. Still snow lying outside today with some big dumps up North. I agree though that compared with the minus 18 we saw last December that it's been very mild.

been 4 or 5 separate days of snow so far here with plenty ice in between. Still snow lying outside today with some big dumps up North. I agree though that compared with the minus 18 we saw last December that it's been very mild.

Is that what it got down to?!

coldest iv seen up to now is -0.5 but i dont think mines reading spot on.