By Jade Gurss

Driving on ice and snow is not likely an everyday occurrence for many who reside in the Southeastern United States, but increasingly unpredictable weather patterns have made occasional ice or snowstorms more of an issue throughout the region. This makes it critical to have an understanding of the basics to safely travel less-than-perfect road conditions when you encounter them.

The Bridgestone Winter Driving School and Center for Driving Sciences in Steamboat Springs, Colorado is the premiere facility in the United States for teaching basic and advanced techniques for driving on ice and snow. At the invitation of Bridgestone, a series of journalists were invited to attend the school in January to learn first-hand some of the techniques. The school’s expert instructors – drivers with championship-winning pedigrees in everything from ice and rally racing, to open-wheel Formula cars and even accomplished motorcycle and ski racers – offer a checklist of essentials that every motorist should have.

Preparation is Key
Most motorists wait until it’s too late to prepare for wintery driving conditions. No matter the climate where you reside, a few simple precautions are essential:

Check your tire pressures monthly:  This is a critical tip that applies year-round. Every vehicle - from the smallest, high-powered sports cars to the heaviest, mammoth SUV – is dependent upon the four small patches of rubber from the tires, which meet the road and allow the vehicle to be driven in a controlled manner. It is critical to keep your tires inflated at their recommended pressure for maximum performance year-round.

Why check the pressures at least once a month? A change in the outside temperature of 10 degrees Fahrenheit alters the tire pressure at least one pound per square inch.  So, what may have been the proper tire inflation level for your toasty summer vacation to the beach will be a much different reading when you load down the family vehicle for a trip to grandma’s house for the winter holidays. Proper inflation also improves gas mileage and greatly increases the life of your tires.

Other preparations: Have your battery checked (nothing worse than a dead battery when the air is cold and the wind is swirling!), as well as other key components like the vehicle’s suspension. Also, stock your trunk with items such as blankets and snacks for any emergencies that may come due to being stranded or stopped by the conditions.

Driving on Snow or Ice
While there are few things more fun for those who love to drive than sliding and skidding around the controlled environment of the icy courses at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School, the instruction there offered a first-hand experience of controlling a vehicle on icy or snow-covered surfaces. Again, most of the basics are common sense and simple physics, but are key to understanding how you can more safely drive in less-than-ideal situations.

Once again: Prepare:  If you know you will be driving in wintery conditions, prepare before departing. Travel during daylight hours for maximum visibility and wear quality sunglasses. Even under less-than-sunny skies, the glare from snow and ice can be as bad or worse on your eyes as bright sunlight. Sunglasses also help your ability to detect changes in the road conditions. Allow extra time to reach your destination. Being in a hurry can result in unfortunate consequences under any conditions, but it is always better to arrive late and safe.

Concentrate. Anticipate.: Your mindset behind the wheel is critical. Driving is not simply a physical activity: especially in rough conditions, it is much more a mental exercise. Anticipate situations before they develop – don’t rely upon a false sense that your own quick reflexes will save you in an unexpected situation.  Anticipate areas that may be prone to have patches of ice: bridges and overpasses ice over sooner than surface roads because they lack the warming effect of the earth. Be extra cautious while crossing bridges, but also beware of heavily shaded areas of the road. You may be on dry pavement where the sun is shining directly on the surface, but areas that are shaded may still have ice or snow, so don’t be caught by surprise. Again, daytime travel with quality eyewear can help you spot these trouble areas. Don’t be afraid to frequently test the road conditions by occasionally applying your brakes (assuming there are no vehicles behind you) to test the traction available under various conditions. The more aware you are, the better able you will be to respond in an urgent situation.

Another area to be extra cautious is at stoplights or intersections. Many cars stopping or sliding in the same location can pack snow or polish an icy surface, which makes it even more treacherous. Heavy-footed drivers also spin their tires when starting, which worsens the problem. Be very, very cautious at intersections, and be vigilant to stop or start on a slightly different line than usual. Fresh snow or areas that are less polished will almost always offer better traction. Slow down sooner when approaching an intersection to allow yourself more time to react or adjust to slick spots.

Lights On: The old “Wipers on = lights on” rule of thumb also applies to winter driving. Using your headlights improves your own visibility, and may also allow your car to be seen easier and earlier by other drivers. Avoiding crashes or dangerous situations may come down to inches or split-second decisions, so take advantage of everything available to you. 

Understand Your Vehicle
So, you’ve prepared and you’re mentally ready for your journey, but the most important things to learn are an understanding of your vehicle and its characteristics in winter conditions.

When traction is limited, always consider the three major components of driving: braking, turning and acceleration. Each element is most effective on ice and snow when you do only one at a time. Always brake while traveling in a straight line, so your tires will be able to stop in the shortest distance possible. Let off the brakes when you are cornering. This allows the tires to devote 100% of their traction to making the corner. And finally, don’t accelerate until you are off the brakes and traveling in a straight line. By doing each of these things separately, you allow the vehicle and the tires to devote 100% of their capabilities to each specific task.

Here are some other critical tips regarding vehicle performance the experts emphasize.

Don’t Overestimate Your Vehicle’s Abilities:  Auto manufacturers continue to improve their vehicles with features like all-wheel drive, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and all-weather tires. However, these features are not foolproof nor do they offer a complete solution to poor road conditions.

-- All-Wheel (or Four-Wheel) Drive: While there are certainly advantages to these systems in a variety of conditions, the laws of physics still dictate how a vehicle reacts on ice or snow. No matter how many wheels are driving the car or SUV, the stopping and cornering still rely almost solely upon the four small contact patches of your tires. So, don’t be overly confident in your new SUV: it may have all the bells and whistles, but the laws of physics still apply.

--- Braking Systems:  ABS systems are a superb innovation, but you must understand the different technique using ABS versus standard brakes. ABS systems are most effective when you apply very firm, steady pressure to the brake pedal when stopping. The ABS system will allow the tires to lock-up and then release to allow steering input to avoid an accident. When using standard brakes, you must use a pumping technique: when you feel your tires lock-up under braking, you are unable to turn the car until you release the brake pedal. It is counter-intuitive to release the brake while trying to stop, but it’s a procedure you must learn to be at your safest and most likely to avoid an accident.

-- All-Weather Tires: There is simply no substitute for tires designed for winter conditions. All-weather tires offer reduced traction of up to 50 percent compared to a true winter tire such as the Bridgestone Blizzak. So, if you have all-season tires, keep a safe distance behind a car in front of you: they may be able to stop in half of the distance of your vehicle in poor conditions.

You can find more tips and details online with the Bridgestone Winter Driving School at www.winterdrive.com. They offer a DVD of tips as well as other winter driving tips.