What should I know?

As you might have guessed, please slow down. Drivers end up in ditches and crashes because they are driving too fast and too close to other drivers.

You might worry that your slower speed is delaying other drivers behind you. Please don't let this bother you! It is not your job to make their lives more convenient because they want to drive faster. Drive your own drive!

The maximum speed you should drive in snowy conditions is:

• Straight line, flat surface: 45 mph
• Going uphill: 45 mph
• Going downhill, moderate decline: 25 mph
• On a large curve: 25 mph
• On a small curve or 90 degree turn: 10 mph
• Going downhill, steep decline: 10 mph, and put your car in 1st or low gear

In general, start out slow when you are going downhill, but get your speed up before going uphill. Always go slower before you approach curves or turns. 

But my truck's got four wheel drive!

Yep, ours do too. Four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive will help you start moving, but they don't help with traction during stops or turns. All that will do for you is get your car started more easily up a hill or from any stop situation.

How do I get more traction?

More weight! The heavier your load is, the more traction you'll get in the snow. This is especially important for pickup trucks, which have very little weight over the rear tires. Leave the snow in the pickup bed, and consider adding more weight such as bricks, sandbags, or those dumbbells you swear you are going to use after New Year's.

What else should I know?

If you start to fishtail and lose traction, don't hit the brakes! Let off the gas, and steer into the turn

On steep hills in the snow:

• Yield to a driver going uphill
• One car at a time when going up a hill
• If you start to slip when driving uphill, consider going back down the hill in reverse, in a straight line