The presence of ice or snow on the road can be a significant risk, especially for drivers who are not familiar with getting behind the wheel in adverse conditions. Driving on slippery surfaces entails the imperative need to adjust the driving style. Therefore, it is important to reduce speed, drive smoothly, avoiding sudden acceleration, braking or turns, and increase the safety distance.
By adapting the speed to the road conditions we will achieve greater control over the vehicle, which will also give us additional time to react to any unforeseen event. The speed reduction must be gradual and constant, avoiding sudden maneuvers that could compromise the stability of the car.
In addition to equipping the car with winter tires or chains in the sections where the latter are mandatory, when driving on slippery asphalt it is best to always do so with one more gear than the situation requires.
Although it may seem paradoxical to opt for fourth or fifth gear, commonly associated with higher speeds, it is important to keep in mind that these gears are less powerful. This means that they do not transmit power as quickly and abruptly to the wheels compared to higher gears and will minimize slippage of the tires placed on the drive wheels.
In this sense, it is appropriate to use a higher gear only when we are driving on flat terrain or going up a slope. However, when descending a slope covered with ice or snow, the recommendation of the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) is the opposite. The organization chaired by Pere Navarro advises opting for lower gears to hold the vehicle using the engine brake, using the brake pedal only when absolutely necessary and very gently.
Vehicles with automatic transmission usually offer a specific function called 'snow mode'. This option is designed to improve driving safety by reducing the risk of wheel spin. In some automatic cars, the gear lever can have two positions. In this case, we must select the second position to use only the first two speeds.
The suggestion of using a higher gear when driving is also relevant when starting a parked vehicle in a snowy area with ice. To prevent the wheels from slipping when moving from neutral to first gear, it is advisable to opt directly for second gear, releasing the clutch very slowly and gently.
This practice helps minimize the risk of loss of traction, providing a more controlled and safe start in winter conditions typical at this time of year.
Finally, remember that although the idea of following the tracks left by other vehicles and driving over them may seem attractive, in reality, it is an unfavorable option. On snow-covered roads, those cars are likely to have passed by a considerable time ago, and marks in the snow can become ruts ripe for the formation of ice patches.
