Thoughts On Driving In Snowy Traffic Jams

So far I have been sitting in this snowy Nashville traffic jam for 5 hours. Here's a few suggestions for a similar situation.

With all the cars on the road, snow plows are not able to scrape the snow off the roadway. You will end up rolling on icy slush, which is pretty slippery. My drive wheels got stuck in the ice for a moment. I also saw another driver who's drive wheels were spinning in the ice. Here are some suggestions to deal with this situation:

First, make sure your to drive axles are locked so they both have power. When you start up, you will need to go very slow but still start in 2nd gear. As soon as you start rolling, downshift to first (You hardly have to worry about double clutching when you do this!) Starting in second limits the power to the wheels so you won't break traction. Moving in 1st or low is a good idea to keep you from going too fast.

If you lose traction completely and cannot get rolling, stop the wheels, use reverse, to see if you can get out of that tiny hole you are in. You don't need too much, you don't want to hit anyone behind you!

Once you are rolling, and as the traffic allows, do your best to not stop at all, keep your wheels rolling. This way they won't freeze to the slush again. If you do stop with the traffic be sure to leave plenty of space ahead of you in case you must change lanes right there.

Rolling in the icy slush, as much time as it takes to get to your speed, you will need that much time to stop. Keep that in mind and adjust your following distance.

Thanks Errol. V, i do not like driving in the snow and i appreciate your help.

Errol V. said, "Once you are rolling, and as the traffic allows, do your best to not stop at all, keep your wheels rolling."

^^^^^^^^ momentum is your best friend and biggest enemy, after other drivers, in snow or icy conditions. The key is to control your momentum.

Fire-Man adds:

momentum is your best friend and biggest enemy

Basically, in snow/ice,

        Slow Is Good

One more thing that was useful in the snow:

I tilted my driver side mirror down so I could see my drive wheels. As I started from a stop, I watched the wheels. I could see them spin quicker than I could feel the spin, so I could react faster if I didn't have traction.

The trick about starting in second gear then shifting to first or low as soon as I started rolling really worked.