Comments on: Never forget the ‘Golden Rule’ of winter driving

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 03:20:25 +0000

Most of you statements are correct. The one incorrect one is the one regarding the posted speed limit. It is arbitrary and below the engineered design speed for the highway. It is a speed tax designed to raise revenue and give police a nice cushy job handing out speeding tickets instead of solving crimes.

By: Hans Schmitt

Hans Schmitt — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:35:00 +0000

This is true, however I’ve found that in extreme conditions, AWD or 4WD helps in that it keeps all 4 wheels locked together so that they all turn at the same speed.

By: Hans Schmitt

Hans Schmitt — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:32:19 +0000

I disagree with at least one of the statements above. I’ve driven vehicles of all types over 50 years. It all depends on the vehicle. Take your car out to an empty icy parking lot and try different maneuvers, starting, stopping, different types of turns.. I was really surprised when I got on a slippery parking lot and found I couldn’t steer my older Subaru (now obsolete) in 4wd. When I disengaged the front axle, it was OK. It felt like the rear end just kept shoving straight ahead, faster than the front axle could pull. In my experience the newer all wheel drive vehicles, of which I’ve had a few, do turn much better on snow, ice, etc.

I wouldn’t have anything but an all wheel drive, even in Florida. We have unbelievable rainfalls at times, enough to cause severely reduced speed because of visibility and hydroplaning. I feel a lot better in my Armada. I can go anywhere, any time, with a little common sense. (Which ain’t as common as we’d like)

By: Anthony Tennant

Anthony Tennant — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:40:34 +0000

In the middle of the storm approaching a stop sign, I was doing 30 km in 40 km zone and was overtaken by a car in oncoming lane. That still boggled my mind.

By: capistrano6

capistrano6 — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 11:32:29 +0000

I encountered someone driving the 401 one night during horrendous conditions doing no more than 20-30 km/hr. in the center lane. This forced others to pass or follow which was difficult given the situation. At that speed I could feel my car losing grip on inclines. If they were that fearful they should have taken an alternate route. off the highway. Maybe winter training like skid school should be mandatory (I went to the Oakville one). I have a feeling most drivers on the road today are learning to drive from those who already don’t know how to drive, multiplying the bad habits.

By: Rescue2003

Rescue2003 — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:48:32 +0000

I remember, and have reminded my kids, of what my driving instructor told me: “Some vehicles are AWD, but every vehicle is ALL WHEEL STOP. Do not expect your AWD vehicle to be any better at stopping than anyone else’s vehicle when conditions are slippery.” Sadly, a lot of AWD vehicle operators drive like they are invincible in slippery conditions, and do not care if they are going way faster than the bulk of traffic.

By: GeorgeNotBush

GeorgeNotBush — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 18:48:52 +0000

So the dirty little secret is that winter tires only give you 10% of the traction — which is twice as good as all seasons.

The other problem is that when your tires do lose grip in ice, slush or compacted snow, it will be a whole lot longer to get it back than on dry pavement — during which time you may go off the road.

Over the weekend we ran up and down the Icefields Parkway with something like 50% compacted gritted snow on Hankook Optimo 4S with 60,000 km on them.

The grip is still there — and yes, you do slow down, especially downhill.

Compared to the 404, I did not see a single SUV sitting on its roof.

As for engineers and speed limits. the politicians have a very heavy hand on the scales.

By: 54321

54321 — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 18:11:24 +0000

This an article presented to a readership some of whom still drive with no lights on in a snow storm &/or past dusk… soo yeah.

By: Lawrence of Toronto

Lawrence of Toronto — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 17:11:26 +0000

I totally agree with Ian Laws’ comments in this article, however, to be crass and boorish, the observations will only apply to the converted. Driving, in general, is a learned skill – particularly in winter conditions. Those of us who have survived, have learned from our experience. I always enjoy the thrill of excessive winter driving after the first snowfall – in empty parking lots! It refreshes the memory of the limits of adhesion. I have sent both my children to the skid school in Oakville – after their first ‘incident’. They were unlikely to have attached any relevancy or need beforehand.
For those who believe that the laws of physics to not appy to them – such as those who were mentioned in the article – my hope is that their probable ‘off road’ experience will be a solo journey and that they do not deepen the gene pool by removing theirs – and others.

By: JT

JT — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 16:09:48 +0000

Problem is not speed, it is lack of driving skills and know how. People were still braking hard and steering while braking or accelerating. You can’t do that in snow covered roads. If you need to slow down, instead of braking, take your foot off the pedal early and let it slow down that way.