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How to Go on Ice and Snow presents wellillustrated, easy-to-read information that will aid you in
becoming a safer and more efficient driver despite
winters adverse weather conditions. This pamphlet
contains information on vehicle systems, driver
preparation, winter driving techniques maximizing
traction, maintaining safe following distance and
changing speed smoothly and additional hints and
precautions helpful to drivers of front-, rear- and allwheel drive vehicles.
Front-wheel skids
1. Electrical system
Battery:
The heart of your vehicles electrical system is the
battery. Cold-weather starts require a battery that is
fully charged. Have your battery checked and replaced,
if needed. Have your alternator or generator, voltage
regulator and drive belts checked, too.
Ignition system:
Damaged ignition wires, a cracked distributor cap or
worn spark plugs can make starting difficult or may
cause a sudden vehicle breakdown. A fall vehicle
checkup will reveal any problems.
Lights:
During the winter, working lights become more critical
for others to see you. Make sure all your lights and
lenses are clean and functioning properly. Grime on
headlight lenses reduces their effectiveness by as much
as 90 percent.
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Ice scraper
Cloth or paper towels
Booster cables
Blanket
Warning flares or
triangles
Cellular phone
Following
Normal following distances for dry pavement (three
to four seconds) should be increased to eight to 10
seconds when driving on icy, slippery surfaces. This
increased margin of safety will provide the longer
distance needed if you have to stop.
On a four-lane highway, stay in the lane that has
been cleared most recently. Avoid changing lanes
because of potential control loss when driving over
built-up snow between lanes.
Remember: traction is greatest just before the
wheels spin. Gentle pressure on the accelerator
pedal when starting is the best method for retaining
traction and avoiding skids especially if your
vehicle is not equipped with traction-assist
technology. If your wheels start to spin, let up on the
accelerator until traction returns. Do not use cruise
control when driving on any slippery (wet, ice,
sand) surface.
Once underway, keep going. When approaching a hill,
observe how other vehicles are reacting and keep far
enough behind the vehicle immediately ahead so
that you will not have to slow down or stop. This will
allow you to maneuver around any stuck vehicles
and to increase your speed (within reason) at or near
the bottom of the hill to give you the extra
momentum to carry you over the top.
As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed
and proceed down the hill as slowly as possible.
Minimize brake use on very slippery, icy hills; if
further speed reduction is needed, gentle, slow
brake application (squeeze braking) is
recommended to avoid loss of control.
Steering
Braking
Stopping on slippery surfaces
requires longer visibility,
following and stopping
distances. Drivers proficient at
driving and braking on slippery
surfaces have developed these
techniques by practicing in
secluded areas. These drivers
also are knowledgeable of the
additional dangers associated
with and created by low temperatures. The stopping
distance required on ice at 0F is twice the amount
required at 32F.
2. Brake system
Skids
3. Tires
A skid occurs when you apply the brakes so hard that one or
more wheels lock, or if you press hard on the accelerator
and spin the drive wheels. Skids also occur when you are
traveling too fast on a curve and encounter a slippery
surface.
Rear-wheel skids
Effective skid-control maneuvers and a calm approach
will help you regain control. If the rear wheels lose traction,
resulting in an oversteering situation, use these steps to
regain control:
1. Continue to look at your path of travel down the road.
2. Steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.
3. Avoid slamming on the brakes. Although hitting the
brakes is a typical response, slamming the brakes will only
further upset the vehicles balance and make it harder to
regain control.
4. When the rear wheels stop skidding, continue to steer to
avoid a rear-wheel skid in the opposite direction.
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