Comments on: How to Drive in Snow and Ice Chicago Style – Winter Driving Saftey Tips

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| Tylo Times — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:09:40 +0000

[...] slow speed, five maybe ten miles an hour at the most. I was coming up to a stop sign on a small Chicago side street, put on my brakes and my truck just kept on going, bumping in to the car in front of [...]

By: Gehrrie D. Bellamy

Gehrrie D. Bellamy — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:27:14 +0000

hi, i found your article EXTREMELY helpful! i’m from houston, and i’m moving to chicago in april of next year, and i’m trying to prepare (mentally and otherwise) for the winter. i have no idea how to drive in the snow and/or ice, and since it barely even rains down here, i’m very nervous. i’ll just refer to your article on a weekly basis until i move. thanks!

By: Dannny

Dannny — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:52:18 +0000

I was just reading the article out of curiousity and had to stop and comment once you gave Denver Colorado drivers credit….I was born and raised in Chicago (S. Burbs) and I recently located to Denver (almost 3 years)…I must say they have no idea how to drive in these conditions and the city is no where equiped as Chicago is…I actually could not believe it…You would think they’d be prepared as you said so yourself….But the media is what does it!!!! Denver does not get much snow as the rest of the state does particularly the mountains…This is what they show on the news as I watch WGN from here and a lot of times the weather they say is over here is not…only if your in the mountains….They have sunshine almost everyday at some point in the day, and so far this winter the average temp has been 40. I love the weather here, but the drivers suck when there is the least amount of snow on the ground. I can’t remember ever having a snow day at least you got two….In only 2 1/2 yrs here I have had the day off from work at least 3-5 times… the food and water at the grocery stores are empty… it was quite hilarious the first time it happened…Everyone was stuck in snow (in trucks) some of them, while I got around just fine in my ’04 chevy cav…

Well now i will fiish the article and give the tips to these folks out here!!!!

By: Charvak Karpe

Charvak Karpe — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:10:56 +0000

Regarding:
“Always change lanes slowly and try and keep the wheel as straight as possible even if it tries to drift when going over the new snow between lanes. If you feel spin, let go of the gas immediately, the automatic coast momentum will handle it until you find the new lane grooves.”

Letting go of the gas immediately actually encourages the spin by shifting the weight off the rear wheels and destabilizing the car. If you have front wheel drive, the best way to keep it going straight on a straight road when changing lanes is to use some extra power to let the front wheels pull the car and keep it straight. Rear wheel drive is a bit trickier. Gently letting off the gas while being alert with the steering can keep the car from being pulled into a spin by the accumulated snow.

Also, your fiance in his Integra could use the clutch to precisely control torque to the wheels instead of trying to use the accelerator pedal. Does he already try that? A manual transmission makes it much easier to rock back and forth if a car does get stuck. But an automatic probably makes things easier for people not totally comfortable with a manual.

By: chiweekendfun

chiweekendfun — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:55:24 +0000

Hi Lods Marsh,

Thanks for the question.

I don’t think there would be much difference since it is such a short distance. If it works for you keep doin what you’re doing…

Happy Snow Driving, we got 6 inches of snow here last night!

By: LODS MARSH

LODS MARSH — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:45:52 +0000

Hi – i have a front wheel drive vehicle. i normally back into my driveway in preparation for a snow storm. recently i was told i should be pulling in to get the most traction in the snow when leaving the driveway. i’ve not encountered any difficulty doing it my way (backing in and driving out) – is there any benefit to driving in and backing out for my front wheel drive vehicle? thanks for your opinion.

By: chiweekendfun

chiweekendfun — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:11:11 +0000

Hi Michael, thanks for your comment. Yes, Montreal does get more snow than Chicago, and yes snow tires are much better than all season tires.

The reason I mentioned all season tires is that most of the city dwellers I know don’t have garages to keep extra tires in nor the extra cash to buy a second set of tires, so we go with what is affordable. And we didn’t seem to get all that much snow until last year.

I am suprised at the small cars getting around ok in Montreal since I had to push my fiance’s manual transmission Acura Integra out of the snow twice last winter and that isn’t that small of a car. I figured smaller would be even more difficult. (maybe its the snow tires?)

Anyway, thanks for the input I am sure the readers will find it helpful.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:22:50 +0000

Being from Montréal, we know snow. I agree with most of what you say but winter tires and all season tires are like night and day. Winter tires are the law here and should be any place that gets a lot of snow. I drive a manual and while it can be a bit tougher to get going in a snow storm, it is a whole lot easier to stop using down shifting. Personally, I’d rather be able to stop. We also have plenty of Smart Fortwos running around; as for me, I drive a Yaris hatchback and haven’t had any trouble. I love winter!

By: ScaredOfSnow

ScaredOfSnow — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:19:49 +0000

Thanks for posting this! All citizens who live in a snow climate should read over this every year as a refresher.

By: chiweekendfun

chiweekendfun — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 08:41:31 +0000

Hi Suellen,

That is a great question and buying those items online seems to be trickier than I would have thought.

I know that in most hardware stores in Chicago and the suburbs you will find an entire section devoted to snow removal equipment this time of year, but online the Ace Hardware, Tru Value, Lowes, Menard’s and Home Deopt sites did not have salt or snow shovels available.

Maybe they think it is too expensive to ship large items? Or maybe they assume people would only buy those items in person? (the Lowes site was down alltogether and Tru Value and Menard’s hardware didn’t even have internet purchasing available, this is a sad state of hardware store web sites)

Anyway, I found battery chargers and jumper cables on the Ace Hardware site here: http://www.acehardware.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2629361&cp=2568455&clickid=topnav_autodrop_3

And Amazon.com had shovels and other snow removal equipment available on their site from a variety of retailers. They can ship the items to you or your son anywhere in the US.

Salt: http://www.amazon.com/Halite-RS25-Snow-Rock-Salt/dp/B001E5CUBW/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1228638762&sr=1-8

Small shovel: http://www.amazon.com/Halite-RS25-Snow-Rock-Salt/dp/B001E5CUBW/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1228638762&sr=1-8

Ice scrapers: http://www.amazon.com/Hoppy-19513-Super-Deluxe-Snowbrush/dp/B000B8Y016/ref=tag_dpp_lp_edpp_ttl_in

I hope these items are helpful and best of luck to him in the snow!