How to Drive in Snow with Front Wheel Drive
Source: Pixabay
Front-wheel drive is a type of system that some cars run under. According to newroad.ca, vehicles that operate with this transfer all of the energy from the engine to the front wheels of the car. This type is great because it gets more efficient fuel economy. What about the snow?
You might wonder how to drive in snow with front-wheel drive.
Read on to learn how to drive in snow with front-wheel drive. This type of car has the best traction of all in icy circumstances, but there are still a few tips that you should remember to stay as safe as possible if you find yourself in this circumstance. By understanding these, you will be able to avoid a dangerous crash with your front-wheel drive.
Don’t Stop the Car
When using front-wheel drive, one of the simplest things you can remember is to avoid stopping the car unless necessary. This step might seem silly, but refraining from tapping your brakes when moving through the snow will allow you to use all of the abilities that your front wheel car provides.
Some dangers that can come from tapping the brakes on a front-wheel-drive car in snow include:
- Loss of traction on a sheet of ice
- Loss of control of your vehicle
- Loss of the ability to stop
All of these items could happen if you make a wrong move by stopping your car more times than you need to.
If there is a stop sign, a light, or any other obstacle, you may need to stop. Avoid slamming on your brakes when doing this to avoid losing control on an extra frosty sheet of ice. If you are light with your brake, stopping is likely to be as safe as it can be with front-wheel drive.
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Avoid Jerky Movements
Another vital tip to know when understanding how to drive in snow with front-wheel drive is to avoid jerky movements while you are moving along. This step goes hand-in-hand with refraining from stopping the car. Jerky movements, from steering too fast to slamming on the brakes, can cause your vehicle to spiral out of control.
Front-wheel-drive works best in the snow if you use fluid movements. Anticipate movements ahead of time so that you can ease into them, rather than stumbling on them last-minute. Front-wheel drive is powerful in the snow, but jerky movements are not your friend. Avoid them during your time on the road if possible.
Anticipate the Future
When driving your car in the snow, you should always be looking at the road ahead of you. Anticipating what might happen next will ensure that you can use all of the abilities that your front-wheel-drive offers you.
There are many items that you should keep an eye out for when driving in the snow. Some of these items include:
- Shiny or dull surfaces, which can indicate the presence of deadly black ice
- Snow types, some of which are easier to drive through than others
- Water, which can cause slipping but is often a better choice than snow
All of these items can impact your front-wheel drive’s ability to move through the snow.
With front-wheel drive, watching the road is one of the most critical things that you can do. Preventative driving is better than any defensive measures that front-wheel drive might give you against the ice and snow. Watch out for all of the above-listed items to stay as safe and secure as possible.
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Utilize Snow to Your Advantage
When using front-wheel drive in the snow, you can use snow to your advantage if need be. Keep this in the back of your mind if your driving runs into a situation where you need to use the natural world to keep you safe.
For instance, if you are having trouble braking, you might:
- Utilize thick snow to slow the vehicle down
- Refrain from accelerating in thick snow to allow control
These items can maintain your speed without damaging the front-wheel drive.
Though it is unlikely that you will have to use the snow to stop or slow down, always keep this top in the back of your mind. An emergency might arise in the snow where you will need to take advantage of this technique.
Refrain From Oversteering
As we discussed earlier, jerky movements are not your friend with front-wheel drive. This rule goes for oversteering as well. When driving in the snow, do not panic if your car starts to drift with the snow. One of the worst things that you can do is attempt to correct your movement when nature starts to pull. Learning how to drive in snow with front-wheel drive means avoiding this.
Rather than oversteering if the snow takes you in a new direction, try riding it out. Correct your turning very slowly if need be. Steering too much and too early can cause you to slip off of the road in snowy circumstances. Your front wheel drive works best if you let it work in tandem with the snow.
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Avoid Driving in Thick Snow
Front-wheel drive works great in the snow. However, this generally only applies to thin snow. Cars with front-wheel drive are not adept at pushing through blizzards or six feet of white slush. If you can help it, you should prevent your front-wheel drive vehicle from having to push through these circumstances.
Before going out in your car, you should take a look outside. Avoid driving if:
- It is currently snowing heavily outside, and it is sticking on the ground
- There are many feet of snow on the ground
- The weather claims an incoming blizzard
By avoiding driving in these circumstances, you will be able to stay safe.
By taking all of these tips in mind, you can drive your front-wheel drive car in the snow without a problem. Taking all of these precautions will ensure that you keep your vehicle in pristine condition and stay as safe as possible even in the scariest situations.
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