You can get stuck in a big snowstorm or icy patch during the cold winter months. Luckily, we’ve got some tips and tricks to get your car out of the Snow quickly, even if you need a better winter vehicle. Follow these 10 car safety tips for this winter:
1. Create A Path Around Your Tires
Make a circle around the tires to get rid of Snow and ice. You need a few meters of clear space in front of and behind the tires to move the car back and forth. This is particularly important if your tires are winterized or have yet to prepare your vehicle for winter. Snow also needs to be cleared from under the front or center of the vehicle, which is longer than the ground clearance.
Of course, a snow shovel will make the job easier, so keep one in the boot if you’re going on a snow journey.
2. Shoveling Snow Off the Car
If you carefully put the steering wheel in reverse, you can clear some of the Snow from around the wheels. You have to turn the steering wheel, then put it in reverse and repeat. But you have to be careful not to mess up the transmission.
3. Don’t Floor the Accelerator
When you’re stuck in Snow or ice, you’re always tempted to floor it, but don’t. Press the accelerator, hold it down for a moment, then release it. Repeat this process until you reach the desired rocking. It is the rocking that releases you, not the force.
4. More Traction Under the Tires
You can get traction under the tires if you still can’t free the car. If your vehicle gets stuck in the Snow, you can use sandbags, salt, earth, or cat litter. Throw a few spoons under the tires to improve traction and accelerate again.
If you get stuck in the Snow, remember to turn off the traction control. It’s one of the many safety features that can help you control your car on ice, but it’s a different story if you leave it on when you’re stuck in the Snow. Traction control prevents the wheel from spinning in a vehicle with poor traction and can sometimes help your vehicle get out of the Snow.
5. Ask Others to Help You Push the Vehicle
If your vehicle has another person or sympathetic passerby who can help, pushing the vehicle out of the Snow can be a simple solution. While pushing the vehicle, press the accelerator pedal lightly to give it extra momentum. Safety always comes first. Ensure you are in forward gear and the ground is smooth enough for helpers to push. Using snow chains can improve tire grip and make driving on Snow and ice easier.
6. Ask for Professional Help
If all else fails and you don’t know how to get your car out of the Snow, it’s best to ask for a professional snow removal company to help you pull your car out of the Snow.
7. Always Stay Calm
If you get stuck in Snow or ice, try to stay calm. Don’t do any sudden braking. This transfers the weight of the vehicle to the front wheels. This makes the rear of the vehicle lighter and more prone to spinning. Instead, gradually ease off the accelerator and hold the steering wheel until you’re away from the ice.
8. Skipping Cruise Control
In bad weather, it’s a good idea to engage cruise control to maintain a steady speed, but don’t do it! If the vehicle slips or skids concentrate on regaining the set speed and accelerate to catch up. It’s best to keep your foot on the pedal as this will help you spot sudden changes in the wheels.
9. Melting Snow
As with shoveling Snow, melting Snow with salt or other chemicals can provide the necessary grip. However, snow melting is not an ideal solution. Salt can cause rust if it comes into contact with the bodywork for too long, and other chemicals, such as antifreeze, can harm you, your pets, and the environment.
10. Sucking Air Out of Tires
As a last resort, you can suck a small amount of air out of your tires, just enough to make them visibly sag. Only do this if you can quickly inflate nearby tires. If you drive with low tires, the rubber will come into contact with the ground, and you will get a better grip on shorter journeys. But this is unsafe and can cause tire damage if you drive too far to reach a petrol station.
With the onset of winter, clogging isn’t the only problem. Snowy and icy pavements are an accident hazard. To help you cope with bad winter weather, follow the tips described above to pull your car from Snow safely.
