Chapter 12: Reduced Visibility, Traction, and other Adverse Weather Conditions

loss of traction to rear wheels

*oversteer situation*: when you brake hard and turn the wheel and your rear end slides out *fishtail*: A skid situation in which a vehicle's rear end tends to slip out in this situation when you hit the brakes a transfer of weight suddenly occurs as the wave moves from the rear wheels and is shifted to the front, putting the vehicle out of balance when you turn the steering wheel sharply be out of balance vehicle starts to go out of control as the rear end begins to slide out in rear wheel drive vehicles when an oversteer situation occurs you don't want to apply more power to the sliding wheels anti-lock braking and stability control systems help minimize fishtailing Here are some actions you should take: *1)* release your accelerator or brake; with manual transmission you should depress your clutch pedal *2)* here quickly and precisely in the direction your vehicle needs to go on a straight Road you should steer for your Target and intended path of travel be careful not to overcorrect for the skid by steering too much *3)* the rear end of your vehicle probably will continue to fishtail after you have corrected the initial skid steer and counter steer in the direction your vehicle needs to go as your speed drops your control will increase a key to avoiding oversteer situations is in painting your vehicle's balance; if you feel the rear end slide out, let up on the gas pedal and focus on your target area and steer toward that Target down your intended path of travel although a rear wheel drive vehicle has a tendency to oversteer, and front wheel drive vehicles tend to understeer, each type of vehicles can experience both conditions

loss of traction to front wheels

*understeer situation*: if your car is not turning as quickly as you want it to turn and your front wheels are sliding straight ahead that means your front wheels don't have enough traction for your vehicle to turn as it should to correct loss of traction you should ease off the accelerator by doing this you allow more weight to the front which has helped provide more traction to your front wheels in order for the vehicle to respond to your steering, the front wheels NEED TO HAVE TRACTION

ice on Bridges

Bridge Road waste antifreeze be for other roadway surfaces cold air circulates above and below the roadway on Bridges and overpasses (warm ground keeps water from freezing on the pavement)

headlights

Keep these points in mind when driving with your headlights on at night: use high-beam headlights to see further down the road look behind your headlights for important information only use your high-beam headlights when vehicles are more than 1/2 of a mile in front of you Switch to low beam headlights the instant you can see headlights of an oncoming vehicle, the tail lights of a vehicle you are approaching, or the tail lights of a vehicle that just passed you that prevents you from blinding other drivers with your headlights use low-beam lights in bad weather in snow, heavy rain, or fog, high beam headlights will reflect more light back into your eyes and as a result you will see less

Gravel Roads

Loose gravel on roads act like marbles under your tires and cause skidding Well packed wheel paths usually form on heavily-traveled gravel roads Drive in these paths for better traction and control if you need to move out of the wheel past, slow down, and hold your steering wheel firmly

visibility and weather

adverse weather can create the risk of being unable to see your surroundings and be seen by other drivers the best way to reduce the level of risk is to *postpone driving until the weather clears* if you have to drive in rain, fog, or snow, remember that reduced visibility sometimes come with an increased level of risk *the best way to stay safe is to try to delay travel until roads and weather improve*

sun glare

at times the sun can create severe and blinding glare conditions sunglasses and a sun visor can't help but you should try to avoid looking towards the Sun by driving with low beam headlights on at all times you will help other drivers see you the brightest day will create the darkest Shadows with severe glitter situations and the sun behind you you should be prepared for a what you missing your signal or even seeing your vehicle

black ice

be alert for this black ice that forms in thin sheets that can be extremely hard to see be extra careful for this type of ice in Winter Mountain situations

ice

be especially alert if temperatures drop below freezing and it's raining these conditions are just right for snow, ice, and sleet you should predict the worst one ice begins to form temperatures will change the amount of traction you will have on ice if the temperature of ice warms from 0 degrees Fahrenheit to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, your traction will be *cut in half* squeeze your brakes lightly to check your attraction in icy areas only do this at low speeds away from traffic slow down gradually if your vehicle starts to slide windows and windshield wipers can also ice up in severe weather if your defroster can't keep your windshield clear, pull out of traffic and clear it off manually; it might be best not to drive at all

other reduced traction situations

braking distance will *always increase low traction situations* slow early and then be ready to slow even more

wet roadways

can create a problem for any driver you can avoid trouble by knowing the right actions to take ahead of time

construction areas

construction trucks and other equipment can leave mud, dirt, or sand on the road slow, steer gently, and Obey worker directions be especially careful for workers and construction drivers who don't see you use an extra space cushion to protect them in many states, traffic fines double in construction zones

tips for smooth Windsor Driving

driving in the winter will test the best of your ipde driving skills the extra effort you make to maintain an adequate line of sight is worth it so use the following tips to help make winter driving a smooth process: *look and listen for traffic reports*: be alert to television and radio reports about collisions, Road repairs, and bad weather you can also take advantage of Internet Resources *keep Windows clear*: remove snow and ice before driving and don't forget to clean your headlights and taillights you want to be able to see and be seen you don't want snow to blow off and block your vision or become a hazard to Vehicles behind you *respect lower speeds*: Travel with the flow of traffic but always maintain control of your vehicle *keep a safe following distance*: allow six, seven, or more seconds of following distance just to make sure you have room *try to keep moving in snow*: if you must be out in a blizzard, be alert for drivers who are stalled, disabled, or moving extremely slowly try to avoid getting stuck behind them slow down and maneuver to avoid others and to keep moving the energy of motion created by a moving vehicle can help carry you through snowy situations *use a lower gear on slippery roads*: you can lower gear to maintain control on ice or snow and remember to keep moving to avoid getting stuck *avoid cruise control*: don't use Cruise control on slippery roads because the system could cause you to lose control

other adverse weather conditions

extreme weather conditions can make routine driving very difficult other adverse conditions such as wind, extreme temperatures, and winter weather may also affect the control you have while driving

2 driving techniques for snow

gentle acceleration, steering, and braking are the key to vehicle control in snow put your vehicle in motion by gently squeezing the accelerator if you're driving wheel slips, release your accelerator and start again to improve traction on snow use all season tires to improve traction even more many states allow the use of tire chains at certain times these chains are placed over the tread on the tires to increase traction

rain

heavy rain reduces your ability to see and be seen keep your windows clear by using your wipers and your defroster on your windows many states require low beam headlights to be on when wipers are on reduce your speed; if the rain is so heavy that you can't see well be prepared to pull off the road and sit out the storm in a safe location using your hazard flashers when rain starts to fall and mixes with dust and oil that's already on the road this mixture makes the roads are very slippery until more rain washes the mixture away any amount of rain will it take the traction needed to stop, stop, and steer the vehicle reduce speed to make better use of Limited traction on wet Roads

meeting other vehicles

if an oncoming driver has high beam headlights on you should take the appropriate action based on the following questions: *1)* is the oncoming driver far enough away to respond to you? briefly flick your headlights from low to high to low to remind me oncoming driver to switch to low beam headlights most new vehicles make this easy. Having a flash to pass position on their high beam control switch *2)* is the oncoming driver closer, and still using high beam headlights? slow down and move to lane position 3 and glance at the right edge of the road *3)* could you be blinded by oncoming headlights? look ahead with frequent quick glances to check on coming traffic don't stare directly into oncoming high beam headlights *4)* is it possible that you will encounter a hazard to the right after the oncoming vehicle? be ready to adjust to a new situation beyond the oncoming headlights

Deepwater

if you don't know the depth of the water had you shouldn't drive through it moving water exerts force on a car and the deeper the water the stronger the force buoyancy can make a car seem 1/2 its weight water about 2 ft deep can carry away an average car if you have to drive through deep water use these steps: *1)* estimate water depth by watching other vehicles and looking at objects such as fire hydrants, fence post, and parked vehicles *if there is even a slight possibility of the water coming up to the bottom of your vehicle you shouldn't enter the water* *2)* if the water is just over the rims of your tires you should Drive slowly in a lower gear avoid driving on the soft shoulder and try to drive on the higher center of the road *3)* when driving at a low speed through water, apply a light brake pressure with your left foot to build friction and create heat on your brake pads this heat will help dry your brakes and keep them working *4)* after leaving the water squeezed your brake pedal lightly to see if your brakes are working normally if your vehicle pulls to one side or doesn't slow down you should drive for short-distance while applying a light brake pressure with your left foot to help dry your brakes

loss of traction

if you know and can execute the correct response when your tires lose traction and you start to Skid, you will be able to control the situation more quickly in all loss of traction situations remember that a locked or Spinning Wheel provides no traction or steering control keep applying the correct driver input said responses and don't give up trying to correct a skid

loss of traction to Power Wheels

if you lower it to pull away from your stock position and you noticed your power wheels are spinning you should simply release your accelerator and allow the spinning tires to stop spinning and regain traction if you're driving a front-wheel drive vehicle and apply too much power the vehicle will likely just sit there while your front wheels are spinning if you are driving a rear wheel drive vehicle the rear wheels will slip and spin and there will be a slight tendency for the rear end to slide out

skidding

in extreme reduced traction situations your tires me lose all or part of their grip on the road can happen on any surface when you're breaking, accelerating, or steering in addition to slowing ahead of time, early detection is one of your best defense is to control skidding look ahead to see your target well down the road the instant you see your vehicle not traveling in your intended path of travel toward your target, you need to start correcting the skid *if you wait until you feel your vehicle skidding, you may not be able to correct a skid in time to avoid trouble*

4 second stopping distance rule

in normal driving conditions you should use this rule to see if you are driving within the range of your headlights *1)* pick a fixed checkpoint ahead the instant the checkpoint appears in the area light by your headlights *2)* Count off 4 seconds: "1001, 1002, 1003, 1004" *3 )* check your vehicle's position; when you have just reached your fix checkpoint you can assume your stopping distance on dry pavement is within the range of your headlights

dirty windows

it's important to keep your windows clean because dirty windows will reduce your visibility simple things such as moisture forming on the inside of your windshield can make a difference between safe, low-risk driving and colliding with another vehicle *when even the slightest amount of moisture buildup, you should turn on your front window defroster, switch on your rear defogger, or use the air conditioner or heater if it will help* you can always open Windows as needed clean all windows and lights ahead of time and bad weather and keep a close check on any ice, snow, or dirt build-up especially on your headlights and taillights *stop to clear them by hand* since wipers won't be able to clear windows completely even in good weather windows that are clean can be a problem the Plastics that are used in many vehicle Interiors can give off Vapors that coat the inside of your windows over time cigarette smoke can create a dirty window problem as well *by keeping Windows clear, you improve your ability to identify, especially at night*

low levels of light

low levels of light at night severely limit your ability to use the ipde process Dawn and dusk driving situations can also be dangerous The low visual contrast between *moving vehicles and the driving scene can be deceiving* by always driving with your headlights on low beam you can help others see you

rocking

often you can pull your vehicle out of deep snow, mud, or Sand by driving forward a little and then back a little by repeating the sequence you can work your way out check your owner's manual to make sure this procedure will not hurt your transmission; if it's fine then use these following steps: *1)* straighten your front wheels *2)* gently accelerate forward, do not spin your wheels *3)* let up on your accelerator; pause just long enough to let the engine slow shift to REVERSE and gently move backwards let up on your accelerator and shift to DRIVE to move forward *4)* continue this back-and-forth movement until your vehicle has clear tracks that are long enough to drive out

ice in tire tracks

snow can pack down into ice in the normal driving tracks, especially at intersections avoid the slippery tracks by moving a little to the right in Lane position 3 to use the unpacked, less like portion of your lane

wind

strong winds can reduce your vehicle control and push lightweight Vehicles out of the lane or even off the road just remember to keep a balanced grip on the steering wheel and be ready to make steering Corrections for Crosswinds sometimes a passing truck can produce a strong blast of wind to maintain control be ready to slow down a little, move to Lane position 3, and apply extra steering to the left just to keep moving in your intended path of travel in the unlikely event that you are in an area where tornadoes are spotted you should be ready to act the last place you want to be in a tornado is in a car so if you see a tornado, stop, get out of your vehicle, and lay down in a ditch or under a bridge

overdriving headlights

this means that driving at a speed that makes your stopping distance LONGER than the distance lighted by your headlights make sure you do not overdrive your headlights, especially in bad weather or on a slick road *4 second stopping distance rule*

controlled braking

too much braking in a panic stop can lock your wheels and cause a skid and loss of steering control use controlled braking to reduce your speed as quickly as possible while maintaining steering control of your vehicle controlled braking is a technique of applying your brakes to slow or stop quickly without locking your wheels *1)* with the heel of your foot on the floor let the ball of your foot press your brake pedal you must press hard enough to slow your vehicle rapidly without locking your wheels *2)* if your wheels locking your Vehicle skids, he's up on your brake pedal just enough to let your real start rolling *3)* keep using the squeeze relax a little squeeze process until you stop using the right amount of pressure is the hardest part in controlled braking situations to overcome this problem most new vehicles are equipped with an anti-lock braking system or abs ABS equipped vehicle uses a computer to prevent its wheels from locking even in an emergency stop if your vehicle has an ABS just press the brake pedal as hard as you can in an emergency you may feel a little pasta to the brake pedal or hear the ABS at work but don't let up on the brake pedal just maintain firm pressure until you come to a stop remember the ABS Vehicles will allow you to steer and Brake at the same time however they *will not enable you to stop in a shorter distance*

Reduced traction

traction allows your tires to grab the roads that you that you can control your vehicle rain, snow, ice, stand, and other materials can limit your traction reduced traction can create high-risk driving situations

cold weather

very cold weather creates problems for vehicles *be alert for exhaust leaks*: carbon monoxide gas is created when your engine runs this gas is colorless, odorless, and deadly even a small exhaust leak can be dangerous when you're driving you should always have a source of fresh air coming into your vehicle even if you have to open a window a little if you're stuck in snow with your engine running make sure your exhaust pipe, or tailpipe, is not blocked *don't race a cold engine*: racing a cold engine will increase wear on it so don't run a cold engine at high speeds *don't set your parking brake*: Isis Lush stuck to the underside of your vehicle can you freeze your parking brake when you park your vehicle in these conditions use your automatic transmission PARK dear, or the REVERSE gear with a standard transmission

leaves

what leaves on the road can be decreased traction and reduce you're stopping and steering control slow ahead of time if you see wet leaves on the pavement

hydroplaning

when a tire loses Road contact by rising up on top of water and no longer having contact with the road caused by a combination of standing water, speed, and tire condition the Deep tread of new and properly inflated tires will cut through the water and grip the road however even with good tires, hydroplaning can occur at 35 miles per hour, in water as little as 1/12 of an inch deep tires that are bald or under-inflated can start to lose their grip and hydroplane at less than 35 miles per hour slushy snow in standing water also increases the risk of hydroplaning *if you must drive through standing water, reduce your speed and use properly inflated tires with good tread to avoid hydroplaning*

snow

when driven snow can reduce your vision, covered roadway markings, and make steering more difficult be prepared to slow and steer carefully heavy snow can block your rear window, reducing visibility blush or ice can build up on your windshield wipers it's snow, slush, or ice buildup you should pull off the roadway and clean it off *clear your headlights, taillights, and other parts of your vehicle as needed* use low-beam headlights when it snows, day or night reduce your speed to maintain control and to give others time to respond to you if snow is covering the road you and closes your front right Zone: don't crowd the center of the Road by moving to Lane position 2 This action has the effect of narrowing the road and could lead to a head-on collision different types of snow can produce different levels of traction when fresh snow falls at low temperatures traction can be fairly good when traffic packs the snail at places like intersections, traction can be reduced in Sub-Zero weather, even the moisture from vehicle exhaust can freeze into dangerous ice on the pavement temperatures at or just below the freezing point which is 32° Fahrenheit or 0° Celsius, can create dangerous traction situations the combination of snow, slushy water, and ice can make for extremely slippery surfaces

fog

when your headlights shine into the fog light is reflected back by water particles in the air and this makes it harder for you to be able to see if you use high beam headlights: your ability to see is reduced even further if you use low-beam headlights: you should always use these headlights in fog bug also reduces your ability to judge distances because oncoming Vehicles may appear closer than you think avoid trouble by slowing and increasing the space cushion around your vehicle thick fog, even heavy industrial smoke, can be very dangerous *before entering fog or heavy smoke you should be prepared to slow or park safely off the side of the road* if you stop at the side of a roadway use your hazard lights to warn others that you are stopped, and to be even safe for you should Park in a rest area or parking lot

Reduced visibility

whenever your visibility is reduced, drivers need more time to use the ipde process and apply Zone control driving techniques you can maintain a safe intended path of travel by: slowing down to give yourself more time scanning in and around your path of travel to the Target area predicting others will maneuver into your intended path of travel deciding to position your vehicle of head of time with extra space cushions around it executing driving actions gently to maintain control so that others know what you're doing

hot weather

your vehicle is designed to operate in a wide range of temperatures it has a cooling system to help it warm up in Winter and stay cool in the summer *in extreme conditions problem can develop* your temperature light or gauge indicates when your engine it's too hot when this happens you should just turn off your air conditioner it may be uncomfortable but you are might also be able to cool your engine by turning on your heater if the engine temperature warning light stays on, stop and park in a safe place to let the engine cool one school check the coolant level in your cooling system surge tank never remove the radiator cap on a hot engine because of hot liquid inside can stop you if needed you should refill and repair your cooling system