Okay. I *have* to drive home in this snow (in NC). Advice?

I'm a native NCer, so I don't have a lot of experience driving in snow. It is soft powder mostly and not a lot of ice. I have a Nissan Murano with AWD. I have to drive an hour nortwest. With a child in the car. Tires seem to be ok (better on front than back,but not bald). I plan on not going over 40 to 45. Any other advice? This can't be helped. Thanks...

If not - TAP TAP TAP to slow down. If so, don't. Take off from a stop slowly and carefully. Leave plenty of room between you and other inexperienced snow drivers. Be very cautious at lights/stops for other drivers who can't stop. You should be fine with AWD and good tires.

Good luck!

So I get I need to slowly press down on brakes, not tap. Right?
Thanks for the good luck..:)

kthxbai

:)

...a few minutes at very low speeds.

I'm quite serious, because it is counterintuitive.

Skidding to the right you may need to turn the wheel in the opposite direction you think.

It's easily understood with a few practice skids.

If you don't do snow a lot, just keep your head about you. Freaking out is the worst thing you can do next to slamming on the brakes. AWD does not imply that it has traction control, but if it does, keep the traction control on. That will prevent the wheels from slipping (spinning out). AWD really doesn't make a hill of beans of difference at highway speeds, but traction control does if there's a situation.

Just be patient and keep thinking, "better to get there eventually than not at all", and you'll do just fine. Let the assholes who are in a hurry wipe out and end up in the median strip. One final note - if it is only one child, put the child seat in the center, not on either side. If someone pulls an idiot maneuver and wipes you out, the center is the safest place for the kid.

Be safe and check in when you get home!!!

On Edit: Post 1 has a good point. If it has anti-lock brakes (almost certainly does) and you CAN disable them, DO NOT.

thanks.
Yes, I think the worst is going to be keeping myself from freaking out.

If you start to slide, especially, the best reaction is to take your foot off the gas & do NOT tap/touch/slam the brake immediately. Get control of the steering first before gently tapping the brakes. The car will slow down just by you not having your foot on the gas (well, unless you're going downhill...) and getting control is the most important thing.

AWD is good for getting unstuck if you're stuck, but it won't prevent you from slipping on ice. If you are sliding straight ahead and have ABS brakes, just press down steadily on the brake pedals, do not pump them. Pump the brakes only if you do not have an ABS system. Bring a sack of cat litter and a small shovel with you in case you get stuck in the snow. Keep a good distance behind other cars. Just be careful, don't make abrupt moves. You should be fine. (40 years of driving in Minnesota winters; snow is a PITA but it's manageable if you're careful)

On roads with a lot of accumulated snow, be sure to travel fast enough to keep your momentum. You are most likely to get stuck from going too slowly.

Keep a shovel in the trunk to dig yourself out if you get stuck. Also keep a bag of cat litter or some wooden boards to place under the tire if you get stuck and start to spin your wheels.

Keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you. If someone insists on riding your bumper, slow down gradually until they get the hint to go around you. Rear end collisions are not worth risking.

Keep a cell phone with you.

I'm leaving from a relative's house, so I'll have to make do without the boards & shovel. I have to stop for gas, so I can grab some cat litter then; if you think it's worth having w/out the boards. Thanks for the reminder about momentum; I would probably have gone too slow trying to be cautious. But I don't want to go too fast either.

I have a feeling a one hour trip will end up being over two hours, probably. Ah well..:)

space to stop in wintry conditions from the car in front of you. I live in the Northeast and have driven in snow all my life, but it's always a bit stressful still.

taking some water, snacks and a blanket or two in case you run into problems and have to spend some time on the side of the road, especially if you are going to be on any roads that are not heavily travelled. Make sure you have a fully charged cell phone with you.

Water - Check.
Snacks - Check.
Two blankets & a pillow - Check
Car charger for cellphone - Check

Sounds like I'm as prepared as I can be! Thanks...

I'm fine and home for now; the roads were clear once I got to 220. However, I have to go *back* out at 12AM tonight to drive back down to Charlotte. Still snowing in that direction; although it has stopped here. Gotta worry about black ice.

THANK YOU EVERYONE for the advice. It made me feel a lot calmer.

Black ice is bad schtuff!

A bunch of people looking out for you and waiting for you to arrive safely.

Buckle up!

and they will do wonders for you, even on ice.
dc

is not a good thing. I am used to driving in snow, but I would recommend postponing it if at all possible - it IS very dangerous even with a lot of experience. You might be fine, but there will be many others driving who should not be. Watch out for them and give them more room than you think necessary!!!

Take a charged cell phone and blankets just in case, even coffee in a thermos, and be willing to drive as slow as you need no matter how fast others are driving...you may pass some of them when they are stuck in the snow banks. Be very careful on curves, hills and stops.


Good luck.

mark

Your input is always appreciated. I have to go back out late tonight, so will keep all this in mind.

I have drven on it, in it and through it since I was 16, and I'm now 63, and I hate and fear it, and avoid it if at all possible.

FWIW, the Eagles game scheduled to be played tonight at 8:15 was postponed till Tuesday to keep thousands of people off the road, and my wife's cousin cancelled her holiday party for this evening for the same reason...she lives near Philly, and they are looking at 14" or more, with winds up to 50 MPH.

In stuff like that, especially at night, I stay home.

Please keep us posted.
All the best.

mark

Keep a cell phone and a roadside survival kit in the car, with a blanket, thermos with something warm, and whatever the baby might be amused by or needs. You'll be more relaxed knowing you're prepared for anything. Happy winter!

...if you start to skid, steer in the direction you are skidding. Don't try to steer out of the skid, which you will instinctively want to do, or you'll find yourself in a spin.

So, be really careful driving across them.

I try to keep a steady speed and a good distance behind the car in front of me in order to avoid having to touch the brakes at all while crossing over a bridge.

Though if you're only an hour away, you likely are in good shape, it's best to be ready for anything.

Got to leave out again late tonight, so I'll dig out the boots here in a few.

Maybe even through a hundred or two pounds of salt in the back of the car. I know you're AWD, but still, it can't hurt.

and thank you!!

I'll be thinking about you and visualizing you getting to and from easily and safely.
:hug:

lol.
Packing blankets & change of clothes just in case. Black ice may await...
I'll check in between 4:30 and 5 am EST. if I'm home.
Love y'all! :)

Main roads fine,but side roads full of ice and snow. But I'm good.
You guys are awesome.

:hug: from chapel hill, where supposedly, we have black ice everywhere!