Go slow, be careful. Getting somewhere late is better than not getting there at all.
By Noah Williamson
“Typically, front wheel drive and rear wheel drive are going to be your go to” says Will Geisler, when asked what cars handle best in the snow. Will is the resident autocross enjoyer and car enthusiast among his friend group and has driven a Crown Vic for the past few years. He has gained a lot of driving experience, especially in the snow, where the Vic is notoriously bad.
The first thing any driver should do before going out in the snow is to make sure your car is in working order. “If you’re worried about winter driving, it always pays to get your car inspected by a mechanic. or something like that, make sure your anti-lock brake system is functioning, make sure you have enough brake, and make sure everything is working good. You’re not going to have your wheel fall off while you’re in the snow and no one can stop behind you.” Any problems that might otherwise be passable during the rest of the year are amplified in the winter, where the stakes are higher.
Increase your following distance, and decrease your speed. Will notes, “Common errors are really not giving yourself enough braking time, sliding through intersections. They’ll be like ‘oh, I’m going to stop like normal.’” Overkill is the right level of “kill” for driving in the snow, and while it might be painful for some to do everything incredibly slowly, the biggest delay will always be when you hit something or someone else.
Proper maintenance and driving cautiously keep everyone safe. However, even with the best winter driving, accidents and misfortunes can’t be entirely sidestepped. Be prepared by keeping an emergency kit in the event of an incident. “Get yourself a blanket, some water, maybe some protein bars or something.” Will continues on to explain the importance of being prepared when he had to get his car towed out one time. “Always bring winter gear. Even if you don’t think you need it and your car is warm because when you get in a crash, I was standing there in frostbite conditions… I was wearing what I’m wearing now [a sweater and jeans]… ” Will continues, “A tow rope is like $20, that’s a really good investment. I wish I would have had that this winter.”