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Winter Driving and Skid Recovery

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Are You Ready for Winter Driving?

• Remove any snow on your vehicle’s windows, lights, brake lights and signals. – Make sure you can

see and be seen. – Don't forget the hood,

roof, and your head and taillights.

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How Many Snow Tires?

• Four Snow tires is the recommended set-up

• Rear wheel drive may use 2 only

• Front wheel drive always needs 4 – Consider having 2 full

sets of wheels and tires

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ABS Antilock Braking System

• Purpose is to permit steering under full emergency braking

• Works by automatically pumping the brake pedal many times a second

• If you feel it engage, hold the brake pedal down and steer where you want to go – Ease the brake off when the vehicle is back

under control

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Driving Skills

• Even the most technologically advanced vehicle needs a skilled operator to be safe

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Squeeze and Ease Pedals

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Control with Finesse

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Driving in the Rain

• Slow down! – It takes longer to stop in

wet weather

• Increase following distance

• Drive in the tracks of a car ahead of you

• Don't follow large trucks or busses too closely

• Watch out for brake lights

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Driving in the Rain• Avoid Abrupt or

heavy braking• Headlights on • Check/replace

wipers• Don’t over drive

vision• Proceed slowly

through standing water and be sure of depth

Video: Skid Recovery

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Skid Recovery

• Steer carefully and avoid overreacting to keep control of the car.

• Cars with antilock brakes systems (ABS), the brakes are automatically pumped for you in a skid situation. – You should feel the brake pedal pulsating.

• Car without ABS, apply easy pressure in a pumping motion to the brakes. In the event of an accident, remain calm, follow these safety tips, and call for help. 

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Over-Steer Skids• If your rear wheels

skid... – Take your foot off the

accelerator.– Steer in the direction

you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.

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Under-Steer Skids• Take your foot off the gas

and steer into the skid to get the wheels turning and directing the vehicle again.

• As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go.

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Avoid Cruise Control on Slippery Roads

• Cruise control may sense a drop in vehicle speed and apply power that starts a skid.

• When the vehicle slows as a result, more power is applied when you need it least!

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Are You Ready for Winter Driving?

P A N I C

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Plan AheadThink and Look Ahead

– Look ahead at where you want the car to go and not at the obstacle or curb that you are trying to avoid and, with luck, the car will follow your eyes.

– Anticipate turns, stops, and lane changes well before they occur.

– If the snow falls in the city, leave your car at home.– If you must venture out, plan your route, avoiding

hills, and overestimate the time it will take you to get there and then you won't be tempted to put your foot on the gas.

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Negotiate In Control

Negotiate roadways ONLY when necessary!

Stay In Control– SLOW DOWN!!– Allow extra time to get where you need to be.– Rely on your skills….Not technologies.– Stay CALM, COOL and COLLECTED.– Remember to SQUEEZE and EASE– Control with Finesse

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Thank YouPlease complete the course evaluations before leaving