How to drive in snow

A snow covered winter wonderland is the last thing most motorists want to see when pulling back the curtains in the morning.

It could be worse, you might find that your car has spontaneously combusted in the night or that Godzilla is in town and using your grandmother as a toothpick but of the likely scenarios, snow is about as bad as it gets.

Why? Because you just know that driving to where you need to go is set to become so much more problematic than it would otherwise have been.

UK roads don't cope very well when it snows and part of the reason is that UK drivers don't either. We can be forgiven to an extent because across the majority of the country, snow is a rare occurrence and driving in it an experience we're not used to. That leeway only stretches so far though and some small changes in our attitudes and approaches to driving in snow could pay dividends.

Winter Motoring Guide

Respect the cold

Treating the cold weather with a little more respect is a good place to start. Most motorists are sensible enough to adjust their speed downwards and give other road users a bit more room when there's snow on the roads but that best practice should also be carried over to roads that have been cleared.

According to Bernstein Research, when it snows, accidents are statistically more likely on roads that have been gritted than those that are still snow-covered. That's partly because more traffic gravitates towards the clear routes but also because we assume gritted roads are fine and drive on them as normal.

Men are also more likely to have accidents in snowy conditions than women. This is nothing to do with the driving abilities of the different sexes, and if it was we wouldn't be entering that particular minefield here.

Instead, it's thought to be linked to male working patterns and bravado making them more likely to attempt journeys in the snow. Snow-covered roads are dangerous and if you're on them, you're increasing your chance of trouble.

When we're told only to travel if it's absolutely essential chaps, it might pay to take more heed!

Avoid over-confidence

Our attitudes to driving in snow are also linked to the cars we drive. Contrary to what many people might believe, SUVs are more likely to be involved in accidents in snowy conditions than normal cars.

This is linked to the fact that drivers of 4x4s are inclined to get over-confident, assuming the extra traction their cars generate will let them drive as they would in normal conditions.

The fact is that four-wheel-drive only improves traction, it can't help with grip. Basically, you'll be able to get moving and keep moving easier but cornering and braking can be just as tricky as in a normal car. In fact, the extra weight and high centre of gravity that's common in large SUVs can count against them, making them harder to control and, crucially, stop.

It's a similar story with winter tyres, they improve a car's performance on snow and ice but fitting them and assuming you can drive on low grip surfaces as you normally would on clear roads, is a recipe for trouble.

Drive according to the conditions

The message when driving on snow or ice, on gritted roads and generally in cold temperatures is always to take extra care. Even if the road looks clear and you're shielded inside a giant 4x4 on winter tyres, you should still take the conditions into account.

Pull away from standstill smoothly using the minimum of engine revs and change up early into as high a gear as possible to reduce the chance of wheelspin. Always make smooth, gentle inputs with your steering, accelerator and brakes. Avoid braking at all if possible.

Control your speed and maintain a safe distance from the car in front, remembering that stopping distances increase massively when it's icy. If your tyres stop making a noise on the road surface, this could be a sign that you're driving on ice.

If you do get stuck and have ESP stability control or traction control on your car, try turning them off. These systems can work against you, reining-back the engine's power when wheelspin or skidding is detected.

Don't sit there spinning your wheels though, especially if you're caught in deep snow. The snow around the tyre will simply melt and re-freeze, lessening your chances of escape.

You could try digging away at the snow around the wheels with a shovel or putting down salt to melt the snow. Sand and cat litter are also sometimes used to help tyres get a grip. In rear-wheel-drive cars, carrying extra ballast in the boot increases weight over the driven wheels and can help improve traction.

For more tips on winter driving, winter tyres and winter cars, check out the MSN Cars winter motoring guide.

Winter car checklist
Choosing a car for winter
Winter driver training
MSN Cars Winter Motoring Guide