Driving in the Winter Wonderland!

Sometimes an effort to correct a problem creates another problem. A chain reaction that hopefully has a lesser impact than the original problem. For instance, when the roads get slick or icy, often a layer of saline or salt is added to the roadway to prevent ice. It helps melt away the snow and makes traffic a little easier to flow efficiently. The problem is, that salt ends up all over the windshield after tires kick up a nice spray from the road. All of the road grime gets mixed together with the snow tread tires which are basically blenders of the sludgy mess. Once airborne, it seems to be attracted to windshields. The salt has the added advantage of coating wiper blades and smearing across the visual areas essential for driving. This can cause temporary loss of road vision where a driver is basically blinded of what is ahead while clearing the problematic spray. The spray of washer fluid helps but still takes several seconds to clear away the mess which is also on the wiper blades! More and more washer fluid is needed before the windshield is clear. How fast the driver was going determines the distance travelled during the 10-20 seconds of 'driving in the blind' and if there is any other traffic, the risk of an accident increases. You knew that already. But it is rather scary if you think about it.

Then there are those darn trucks! I hate it when there is snow blowing or blizzard conditions out with fairly limited visibility, and up comes a truck with a whoosh of wind and snow as it passes by. Now you can't see anything but millions of frenzied white ice crystals that were disturbed from their resting place, reactivated into the air. It usually takes about 3-10 seconds for this to clear up, depending on the conditions. Even in a semi, this is not a great experience. In fact it is the same! Best thing to do is look ahead at the roadway and know what is there, slow down before the whiteout occurs, and stay the course you intended to pursue. I always try to be in the lane where the wind will take the stirred up snow into the median or ditch, not the other lane to prevent dusting other drivers. Of course I monitor my rear traffic and get out of their way if need be. So far we have had a wonderful start to the winter driving experience. Lots of snow, ice, and wind. This is important to build your driving skills! People pay big bucks to go through courses that train drivers to handle a vehicle that loses normal control.

Remember to keep weight on your drive wheels for better traction, weight on the 'idler' wheels is also good for added stability. Excellent tread is the best way to ensure maximum traction. There really isn't any traction on ice. Add a little water to the icy surface and it responds as a super lubricant. This is great for sledding, but not or driving. I like to run 'heavy' when the weather is least cooperative for better traction. Empty trailers are easily grabbed by the wind. One tactic I like to use for side winds, drive in the lane that has the lower side of the crest towards the source of the wind. In other words, if the wind is from the north, you are traveling east on the divided interstate, drive n the left lane so that the wind has to lift you an additional couple inches. It also helps keep you from sliding off the road in icy conditions. Of course it is important to maintain a close watch on the rear traffic and to stay out of faster moving traffic's way by changing to the right lane. Take those corners and access ramps with extra care when the sun goes down, that thawing warm sun that left all the water on the road earlier is probably becoming ice! Don't use cruise control when it is raining, water on the road, or in a snow storm. Do I need to explain why? In a word, 'hydroplane' and another term 'road ditch' become a lure for your vehicle to entertain. It isn't very entertaining for the driver. If you can feel the wheels break free, slow down. Four wheel drive is also a problematic problem solver and creator. While 4 wheel drive assists in getting up to speed and pulling through drifts, mud, snow and sand; it is the fastest way to see the world inverted. All it takes is a little ice, and 1 wheel suddenly grip while momentarily out of control. Also 4 wheel drive helps get up to speed, but it doesn't help stop faster. Remember, the first thing to learn about any moving object is how to stop. The second thing to learn is how to start.

I also found that the salt mixture when dry on the road, having basked in the drying sun, can also be a bit slick. One of the other bad side effects. Plus it really can give one a headache after breathing it in. Traffic stirs the dust up, it gets in the air, comes through the vents and into your nose and eyes. Granted, this is typically a low amount, but after hours of driving in it; it can really take a toll on the driver. So we have the white stuff being snow, the white stuff being salt solution dried, and we have a powdery mixture in the air. One problem created by fixing a different problem. It also probably isn't good for the environment, but neither are the vehicles that decide to decorate the road ditches and medians. Personal safety is always important. I wish it were standard that whenever a vehicle is placed in gear, the headlights would come on. Headlights are not just to see where you are going; they also allow others to see you! I drive with my headlights on most of the time. I do occasionally forget; but only in sunshiny weather.

So remember, keep plenty of washer fluid in the vehicle's reservoir and a spare full jug as well. You'll be happy during the snow thaw. Distance helps, but once it is in the air, it aims for the windshield or any nice clean vehicle!

That's all for today folks! Be safe, Have FUN, and most importantly, watch out for those crazy drivers!!!