Safe Driving on Ski Trips -- Part 2 -- If You Get in Trouble
Whether you're leaving the city heading to the Mammoth
Mountain/Lake Tahoe High Sierra country for its beauty and
relaxation, or planning that ski trip from Scottsdale to
Snowbowl, here are some tips for a safe and pleasant journey,
and how to deal with trouble, should it arise.
Slow down. A highway speed of 65 miles per hour may be safe in
dry weather, but an invitation for trouble on snow and ice. Snow
and ice make stopping distances much longer, so keep your seat
belt buckled and leave more distance between your vehicle and
the vehicle ahead. Look farther ahead in traffic. Actions by
other drivers will alert you to problems and give you extra
seconds to react. Remember to avoid sudden stops and quick
direction changes. Do everything slowly and gently. Anticipate
turns and stops. Leave plenty of distance between you and other
cars. Drive as if there were eggs on the bottom of your feet;
step on the gas and the brake pedals so gently that you don't
break the eggshell. Trucks take longer to stop, so don't cut in
front of them.
Watch out for fog; it drifts rapidly and often is patchy. In
foggy conditions, drive very slowly using lowered headlights.
Don't hang on to the taillights of the vehicle in front. This
gives you a false sense of security and means you may be driving
too close. Don't speed up suddenly, even if it seems to be
clearing. You can find yourself suddenly back in thick fog. If
you should find yourself stuck, turn your wheels from side to
side a few times to push snow out of the way. Keep a light touch
on the gas, and ease forward. Don't spin your wheels; you'll
just dig in deeper. Rocking the vehicle is another way to get
unstuck. (Check your owner's manual first, as it can damage the
transmission on some vehicles.) Shift gently from forward to
reverse, and back again.
The best approach to recovering from a skid is the same for both
front and rear-wheel drive vehicles. If your rear wheels start
to skid, turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the
front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer
left. If they're sliding right, steer right. As you continue to
correct, you may have to steer left and right a few times to get
your vehicle completely under control.
If your front wheels skid, take your foot off the gas and shift
to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately. As the wheels
skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will
return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go and
accelerate gently.
If your car has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), keep your
foot on the pedal. If not, pump the pedal gently, pumping more
rapidly as your car slows down. Braking hard with non-anti-lock
brakes will lock the wheels and make the skid worse.
Do not use a mobile phone while driving. Stop somewhere safe or
ask a passenger to make the call. On a freeway, it is better to
use a roadside emergency telephone, because the emergency
services will be able to locate you easily. If you have to use a
mobile phone, make sure you know your location from the numbers
on the marker posts on the side of the road.
If your car gets stuck out on the road run the heater every 10
minutes but never fall asleep with the car running. In blizzard
conditions, especially overnight, make sure one person stays
awake, because help could take some time to arrive. Maintain
circulation by moving your feet, hands, and arms. Avoid alcohol.
It lowers body temperature and will cause you to become drowsy.
Stay in the vehicle. Don't wander and get lost or frostbitten.
Leave one window cracked open. Freezing winds and wet, driving
snow can quickly seal a vehicle. Clean any snow from around the
end of the tail pipe to prevent carbon monoxide buildup. Clear
outside heater vents -- that's the grill under the windshield.
Signal to other motorists that you're stranded by using flares
or flashlights, or by tying a piece of brightly colored cloth to
the radio antenna and using your "Help" sign.
So, whether you're to stay at Scot
tsdale, an Aspen
resort and spa, or a luxury
Vail hotel, there's much more involved than just finding
discounted hotel accommodations; be sure to plan a safe and
pleasant trip!