Such a considerate driver. Great to see! And to be frank, this looks like a really fun challenge!

Having lived in Germany for decades I am accustomed to driving in snow. One christmas my wife and I were visiting my family in the UK. There had been a lot of snow overnight, and the road out of the port had a steep incline. cars were queuing at the bottom. I couldn't see any reason for this, so I drove past. When I go to the top of the hill a police officer stopped me. He asked me how had I managed to drive up the hill, did I have 4 wheel drive? My answer was, In the winter snow tyres are compulsory in Germany.

@PedroConejo1939

Жыл бұрын

My experience in Germany during proper snow was that traffic lights and junction priorities became discretionary, the vehicle with the most need was given priority. I'm not sure if that was a legal requirement or if everyone just did it because... German. On some slopes, pedestrians would help keep cars moving by giving a gentle push all the way up the hill, all without being asked. The whole idea was to never come to a dead stop anywhere.

@LeeFlemingster

Жыл бұрын

I don't know anyone in the UK that uses snow tyres. We just don't get enough snow. Snow socks are excellent though. Everyone should have a set in the car.

@geordiegeorge9041

Жыл бұрын

@@LeeFlemingster Winter tyres are made of a softer mix of materials. When the temp drops below 8"c they perform much better than "normal " tyres.

@ianmason.

Жыл бұрын

@@LeeFlemingster It's not that we don't get enough snow, it's that it's too warm for snow tyres most of the time in winter. In typical UK winter temperatures snow tyres are so soft that becomes a problem of its own.

@lindabrown8421

Жыл бұрын

@@ianmason. I use snow tires on my F-250 from November to April. The tires work as well in snow as they do on dry roads. When Covid started I did not change the snow tires out for a whole year and there was no discernible difference. In summer we have temps that can go over 100 F.

I live in Canada and it snows for almost half the year. When I learned to drive, I went out every single snow storm. If it rained, I went out. If it snowed, I went out. I also did have winter tires but it helped a lot to be able to learn what your car is going to do in different situations. While everyone else got stuck, I just drove no problem. I think it's important not to be scared of something like driving in the snow especially if you are new to it. Just take it easy and go to a parking lot to learn how your car controls when it loses traction. Do some "donuts" or something to learn how your car acts under pressure so you can correct the car.

Perfect example. I have unfortunately seen far too many people using excessive speed and poor separation distance in these conditions. It all comes down to the same thing that causes most issues on the road... Impatience!

@philtabest

Жыл бұрын

If I have someone tailgating me in these conditions, I slow down and stick my hazards on for a few seconds. They always get the message and drop back a bit.

@JohnR31415

Жыл бұрын

It’s safety… you spend the minimum time on the road if you go as fast as possible … I’m sure some people think that

@loftyintentions1985

Жыл бұрын

They use poor speed and separation distances in normal conditions. Snow just confuses them.

I'm a package delivery driver. Had 2 bad snow weathers that hit here in Sweden at two different days, got basically half the deliveries done, rest had to go back due to the massive traffic jams, which was always caused by 2 truck drivers getting stuck, one getting stuck first, then a second thinking they can surely get up that ice road when the other one couldn't, oh wait, they can't either get up, so now we block the entire highway, WOOOO! Oh, and it was fun finding all the random cars in ditches a little bit of everywhere. And remember folks, AWD will get you FORWARD far far easier than 2WD, but you'll not be able to STOP any faster what so ever, so keep that speed and distance proper even if you do have a AWD/4WD car!!!

I was once caught out on my motorbike by a snowstorm on my way home from work in early 2004. I was young and less sensible back then so tried to keep going, and realised only then (3 years into biking) both that two wheeled rear wheel drive vehicles aren’t very good on ice and that crash helmets don’t have windscreen wipers. After a very close call I walked the bike back to work, chained it up, and went home on the train. Lesson learned.

I'm not skilled enough! - I crashed a year ago in a bad snow storm...so I stay home now!

@ashley_neal

Жыл бұрын

Honesty is a good trait!

@QuentinStephens

Жыл бұрын

It is a wise person who knows their limits.

@jackwatsonepic626

Жыл бұрын

I was exactly the same you live and learn I thought claiming of the insurance your premiums wouldn't go up but they do And nobody told me that one but I was 21 at the time fit " but no knowledge 😅

@bazzacuda_

Жыл бұрын

"A man's gotta know his limitations." Harry Callahan

I live in the Highlands, and currently have snow laying outside just now. I put on winter tyres on the first weekend of November, and take them off the first weekend in May. Snow tyres are superior in temperatures less that 7 degrees as well as on ice, snow and slush. Combining those tyres with an AWD vehicle (Subaru) and it is actually a struggle to spin wheels or have a bit of fun in a carpark in the snow. ;) The difference is stunning.

@k_4777

Жыл бұрын

Live in the highlands too and also use snow tyres from November until April-ish, make a huge difference and great for going over some of the high roads where nobody else goes to avoid those doing 10mph on the main roads! The only annoying thing is you'll be happily going along at an acceptable speed for the tyres and then you get stuck behind cars doing 10mph... but at least we don't get stuck!

A set of Michelin CrossClimate 2s (other all seasons are available), plenty of distance and very light throttle inputs. I used to drive long distances on a daily basis (for work). Around 2011, I started using triple peak approved winter tyres, switching to winters in November, then back to Summers in April. This did mean I had to store a complete set of tyres, all year round. When i changed cars in July, my previous cars winters were on their last season and my new car had a set of summers which I was able to resell. I opted for a set of proven all seasons which should cover the majority of what I need to do. However, I need to drive far less for work these days and remain at home during the worst of the weather.

@glynsmith3034

Жыл бұрын

I’ve had Crossclimate tyres on one car for several years now (so we could go to Scotland or Europe for skiing) and they are superb. Highly recommended 😀

I moved to Canada from Manchester about 15 years ago so have gotten used to serious winter driving conditions. Not going out isn't usually an option (unless it's -40). Some tips: Snow tires or all-weather tires (with the snow symbol, not to be confused with all-season that effectively turn into hard plastic with no grip at very low temps) make a huge difference. Wow, I finally got used to not typing "tyres" eh! You have 3 inputs - accelerator, brake, and steering. Try to only use one of them at a time and gently. 4-wheel drive will help get you moving but does nothing to help you stop (and an SUV is liable to be heavier & have more momentum). When it's safe, practice some skids so you can react instinctively if you have an unintentional one and learn how your vehicle reacts / how to counter-steer etc... Have emergency equipment in your vehicle such as an extra coat, blanket, food, and shovel, and be sure your phone is charged up. There are always idiots that drive too fast for the conditions and their skill levels. Be patient and go slow - however long it takes, it will be faster than getting stuck in a snow drift.

@jamesmiller113

Жыл бұрын

Amen to that - it's a shame that we share the roads with so many who don't have the first idea what to do in snow, just wildly polishing the ice in 1st gear etc. But we stick together and plough through eventually friend :)

@markwright3161

Жыл бұрын

European All Season tyres are actually the same as US/Canadian All Weather tyres. Michelin Cross Climates are AS here with the 3 peak snowflake. We don't have the US all season classification here, it's either 'summer' (regarded as just a tyre, sort of unspoken title unless actually comparing to something else, in the UK at least) or AS or winter. The 4WD comment really needs shared more, especially when combined with the suv, (which are mostly only 2WD now, but that's besides the point). So many insist on AWD/4WD, and buy some bloated bodied version of the normal car because of that, and don't think about tyres, then get confused as to why they ended up in a ditch surrounded by the broken bits of the 4-5 figure appearance pack of a jacked up hatchback (suv, crossover, better titled as faux-by-fours). I hate these things for every single thing they stand for, but I'll spare you the rant about them. :)

@garypashley6217

Жыл бұрын

Or dying!

I think the main reason why the whole country comes to a halt with a bit of snow is because no one puts on winter tires. Coming from a cold country, I would never even imagine driving in the winter on summers. In the UK it’s the norm for some reason. Sure, some people will say that snow for a week will not justify having two sets of tires and changing them, but get all seasons then! Basically a perfect balance for the UK in my opinion

4X4 drivers' and high power car drivers, are the ones to watch out for. They tail-gate, no matter the weather, thinking that they are always safe. The 2 BEST FRIENDs" in my car, are the front and rear recording cameras.

There you are! Good - now I can make my coffee and relax with Ashley. Back soon ... ... back again. Here we go!

Its always amazing to see how other countries that is more south then where I live in northern Sweden deal with weather like that. That weather in the video is like a tuesday morning to me before the plows comes out.

Well I got ctiticism for having snow tyres fitted. But I live quite high and unfortunately downwind of Wales. I had a situation where I had to travel. Well I went around so many stuck and abandoned vehicles. The grip was fantastic and braking and steering was really good. I came upon a blocked road and did a 5point turn no problem. Went a different route. Costs me 120 quid per year to swap. Some winters no bad weather. Others several dumps. But I never get stuck.

Been driving in snow for 42 years and I love it, and although all the advice given is spot on, winter tyres make a massive difference. Look for a you tube video of two range rovers in a test, one with winter tyres and with four wheel drive disabled, one with normal ( summer) tyres in full four wheel drive mode. The two wheel drive winter tyred car beats the four wheel drive enabled one in every aspect. Starting, stopping, hills, corners, the lot. If you don’t like driving in these conditions because of a lack of grip, you will be absolutely amazed at how much better winter tyres are. But, you still need to drive like Ashley says as well, there is no substitute for his advice, just that winter tyres are a great addition to make it work better.

Tyres I find are a big part of the issue as well, summer tyres are useless in the snow and winter. Having lived in the highlands of Scotland for years it's amazing the difference all season / winter tyres make in snow like this and how much better you can grip and keep control

@chickadee317

Жыл бұрын

Is it expensive to have tyres changed out to all season?

@ctclothbagco

Жыл бұрын

@@chickadee317 I've found it about the same as summer tyres but I never buy budget tyres anyway

@markwright3161

Жыл бұрын

@@chickadee317 I think most brands do an AS option now, but I would recommend going for a slightly more 'premium' brand, at least one that has been proven to work in all conditions, as they generally have a more well rounded performance through rain, snow, cold and hot temperatures, and they don't completely lose their snow/water displacement ability as they wear. A channel 'Tyre Reviews' is a good one to look into as they compare a lot of tyres for their performance. If you come to the end of your current tyres' lives, they shouldn't be too much more expensive than just getting a replacement set of summer tyres from the same brand, if there even is a difference depending on what size you need. I will say you should only think of changing to AS as a full set. Their performance in varying conditions is very different to a regular summer tyre, so if you only replace the fronts with AS and still have summers on the rear axle, you could find yourself spinning out on roundabouts, etc when the temperature drops. I reached a point of needing a full set replaced on my car instead of the normal pair (of the same brand and type) at a time, so took the opportunity to switch to AS from summer, and I won't look back (for the UK anyway).

5:26 White van camoflaged by the snow - no lights. It utterly astounds me!

I love the challenge of driving in snow or on ice. It's wise, IMHO, to not let the lack of grid be a surprise. Test it. Test it frequently. Knowing when you are on ice or not is critical to keeping the car pointed in the right direction. Tapping the brakes or wiggling the steering will usually let you know when you are on ice or hard packed frozen snow. The brakes will instantly trigger antilock throbbing and the steering will be light. At that point, you have to accept you have no grip and make your choices very carefully, you will only have a significantly reduced control of the car, asking it to do more than it can will usually result in a total loss of directionality and control. Ideally, removing your hands and feet from everything, in a high gear would be the best bet. Obviously though you'll need to steer and hopefully retain control of your speed, so just fruggel with your control budget. It can often be better to end up in a strange and awkward situation on purpose rather than to try and force the car out of control. A very useful technique, if you get caught out on a hill in snow and ice and begin to lose control of your speed, use the verge or kerb if available. Often there is more grip on the grass verge as ice tends not to form on it in sheets. Often by early morning any ice or snow on the vertical portion of the kerbs will be melting and the edge of a tire against the kerb has saved me overshooting a busy junction on the way to work in 2010's snow storms. I started down that hill at walking pace, when I got the ice halfway down the car started to accelerate, anti-locks made things worse. A lower gear made things worse. I was already up to about 10mph and gaining. So I coaxed the car over to the kerb and gently put the tyres against it and the provided enough grip to slow the car. I applied the hazard lights to make others aware, not least I am only partially in control, but to the driver behind to not start down until I'm out of the way! Unfortunately on the way home that night I was faced with the option of hitting an oncoming car or a fallen branch of a tree. A slight hill, 25-30mph, branch was way over 100 yards in front, paused a little too long considering driving around it when a car appeared over the crest coming the other way, deciding that for me. Began braking, got anti-locks. Fought for any grip I could get and still ended up driving into the tree branch at about 10 mph. Car drove over it and no issue. Driving home I wondered why a few people flashed their lights at me and a few pedestrians pointed at me. When I got out of the car I discovered a smaller subbranch had punctured through the front grill, narrowly missing the radiator and was sticking 4 foot out the front of the car.

@frogandspanner

Жыл бұрын

I too wiggle the steering gently to test grip. You can feel the self-restoring force from the front tyres, and that is proportional to grip.

@williamstrachan

Жыл бұрын

Open the window, snow makes a crunching sound, ice is silent.

Looked cold 🥶 It's best to stay in bed. These weather conditions can be mentally tiring. The viewer probably slept like a baby when they got home.😄 Good video.

@handsoffmycactus2958

Жыл бұрын

The world keeps turning and you can’t just not go to work when people are reliant on you.

I was an all weather motorcyclist for many years and have been feet down like the guy in the clip quite a few times. It is terrifying at times knowing you can only use your gears and rear brake minimally or you're coming off.... and cornering is proper squeaky bum time too. All weather tyres on my car make driving relatively easy in comparison.

@laceandwhisky

Жыл бұрын

I remember putting nobblies on my bandit 12 to get to work great fun apart from the bottom twitches 😂

@DavidNewmanDr

Жыл бұрын

It snowed at Easter in Sheffield one year. I managed to get around on my MZ TS250, even up hills in town. Quite often I had both feet out and was crawling along.

@M-oneeleven-M111

Жыл бұрын

I was riding my Thundercat on sheet ice yesterday morning, I know what you mean 🤣, it's a great challenge though. However I did wimp out and use my 4 wheel drive mini in the snow... But I did at least help a few people out 👍

@laceandwhisky

Жыл бұрын

@@M-oneeleven-M111 hope they gave you a tenner for helping. 😁 My sister used to have a Landover with snow chains she earned quite a bit

@loftyintentions1985

Жыл бұрын

I was all clutch and feet in the snow, keeping the bike as upright as possible. I'd also ride in a tyre track depending on how densely packed the snow in it is. Managed to get home after about 15 miles. Dropped it at the bottom of the drive🤦🏻‍♂️😆

Been driving/riding in the snow for 23 years. This viewer does a great job throughout with the exception of that right hander. Was a little fast but manageable. My only hindrance in the snow is all the other road users sat about redlining their engines hoping for traction. Makes me just shake my head 😆

I learned to drive in the snow, in the wilds of Shropshire and a hell of a lot deeper than this. We don't see that type of snow now a days. Sacks and shovels were always useful. A great vedeo lesson as usual:)

I crashed my first car (Morris 1000) in similar conditions, when I was 17. An uncle, who was an experienced driver, gave me lots of tips, including to practice setting off from stationary without touching the accelerator; just using very careful clutch control. I do see lots of people spinning the wheels in snow, trying to get going. So far, (much touching of wood), I haven’t been stuck or crashed in snow since, some 55 years later. Most of his other tips are included in this excellent video.

Always find the news funny when we have a bit of snow they make it sound like the end of the world! I don’t expect drivers to spend £400 on winter tyres but they should be prepared with some snow socks or chains, there only £20/£30 and saved me on a few occasions! Highly recommended

If you don’t have winter/all season tyres, the only reason you should be out driving in the snow is because it started after your journey began. Choosing to go out on uncleared snow covered roads using Summer tyres is just creating unnecessary risk, whatever your perceived driving skill level. You wouldn’t wear your flip flops for walking on snowy pavements.

As always great video with some fantastic advice on driving in poor conditions. It still really pains me how there are so many people on the roads that can't or won't change their driving style in snow and icy conditions. Thinking that they can drive how they always have and it will never happen to them. My dad always taught me in snow, keeping a slow but steady pace leaving far more room than you need. Utilise your gears to slow down as much as you can before braking but do apply a tiny bit of brake while doing so. So others can see your brake lights as well and they know you are slowing down and can prepare for a stop. Always except that the other drivers on the road haven't planned for the conditions or aren't skilled enough so you give plenty of room to everyone. Exactly how the driver in the video did it.

@PedroConejo1939

Жыл бұрын

They're usually poor drivers in decent conditions, so there's little bandwidth available to cope with difficult conditions.

@toebo9683

Жыл бұрын

💯. Plus you also get those who think they are "Top Drivers" and think its Fun to show just how dumb they really are by putting others at risk... 👍

@smilerbob

Жыл бұрын

@@toebo9683 Years ago driving on a four lane section M25 one very snowy evening, we was all happily following two lanes of tracks at 20 mph on the left and around 25 mph on the right and no issues for anyone. Except after a couple of miles we saw one vehicle of a German make facing the wrong way and the driver decided to correct the position by over spinning the rear wheels to do a 180…but ended up doing a 360 🤦‍♂️ Needless to say after that he gingerly corrected the position and slowly merged behind us all and followed safely…thankfully

@toebo9683

Жыл бұрын

@@smilerbob Brilliant... when I first passed my class 1 over 2 decades ago, I was North bound on M1 around Milton Keynes first time driving an artic in the snow. Only 1 lane open and I was doing 20-25mph about a 1/4 mile back from a car in front when a foreign lorry driver shot pass me straddling lanes 2&3 going flat out... I sat there thinking to myself, am I driving like a tart here or ? 10 minutes later I spotted tyre tracks going across lane 3, a flattened central reservation, tyre/skid marks across lanes 3,2,1 (south bound) up the embankment and the foreign lorry on its side. Sometimes you're better off being a tart. Lol. 👍

I had a great driving instructor who took me out in the snow a week before my test. Really, really helped and gave me confidence and a huge amount of knowledge I still use today - he was a legend. I used to head to empty car parks too when there was a decent amount of snow too and remind myself how easy it is to slide/lose control and what to do to correct it. Better to do it in a safe environment with no danger to others than in a bad situation on the roads. Great video as always

There was loads on my way back to Liverpool from Sheffield after visiting family, last Thursday. So many people got stuck on the M62. 🤦🏻‍♂️ I got back absolutely fine. Just have to drive appropriately for the conditions and make sure you have the right tyres, too.

I've only used winter tyres for the past couple of years, but the difference in snow and ice is mindblowing. I get a lot a lot of people who tell me it's a waste of money or that you don't need them in the UK. But you can gaurantee none of them have actually ever tried them. I have them on an automatic rear wheel drive car, I feel much safer driving it in the snow and ice than I do driving my Defender on normal All Terrain tyres in the same conditions.

@Rover200Power

Жыл бұрын

I assume you take them off on days where the temperature is above 7 degrees? You wouldn't want reduced cornering and braking performance.

@Rover200Power

Жыл бұрын

@@garysmith5025 I do not need them.

@ollieb81

Жыл бұрын

@@Rover200Power Absolutely! I keep my summer tyres in the back of the car at all times. I also have a direct line with the Met Office so I’m forewarned of any meteorological changes. To swap them back at a moment’s notice. 👍

@gothmog2441

Жыл бұрын

You can only put wear on one set of tyres at a time. So it’s an upfront capital investment and a storage issue for the set you don’t use, but cost neutral in the long term and a lot safer. Particularly if your new car was delivered in November, with temps of -7 degrees, on Summer tyres…. (Thanks BMW)

@ketchup901

Жыл бұрын

@@garysmith5025 Winter tyres have worse performance than summer tyres when it's summer.

I love driving in the snow, or on snow covered roads. A great opportunity to improve driving skills. I even purposely try to get into minor slides when there's noone around to improve my reaction, handling and correction in case it happens for real, has actually saved me a couple of times, even in heavy rain. Some excellent driving in this video.

@1988dgs

Жыл бұрын

Great mentality, not enough people learn how to drive in bad weather, I love bad weather and usually am the one to go rescue other people/ ferry people home from work etc.

tip from a newspaper delivery driver if rear wheel drive put some sand bags in the back of your vehicle to get extra traction

Great video as always, in Switzerland where we have ice and snow all year round the OFROU ( Swiss Federal Office for Roads) has now made it mandatory for new drivers from 2020 to attended the basic snow and ice extended driving course along side a practical road safty courser and the OFROU does offer more advance driving course for those who want to.

Good point- fresh, soft snow can sometimes provide better grip than following in the tracks of previous vehicles.

Standard equipment in the car boot (from late Nov to end March) is a) folding shovel, b) plastic box containing salted grit. Inside the car, car rug It's saved us a few problems!

@PedroConejo1939

Жыл бұрын

I would add, a dedicated snow brush (for clearing windows, lights and other snowy surfaces); snow socks - you'll maybe use them once in your life in the UK but you'll be mighty pleased you had them when you do. I also keep a magnetic flashing amber roof beacon for extra warning in real emergencies - not entirely sure of the legality of that but I'll cross that bridge if I ever get too it.

@Rroff2

Жыл бұрын

@@PedroConejo1939 AFAIK, but I'm not a lawyer, based on the information we have at work for our vans the only legality with amber beacon lights is that you need a good reason to be using them, an emergency would constitute a good reason.

@PedroConejo1939

Жыл бұрын

@@Rroff2 That's pretty well my thinking - and it is the only reason I'd use it.

@kenbrown2808

Жыл бұрын

had a flat nosed scoop shovel handy to help a fellow motorist out, and it worked much better than a spade for shoveling a clear spot behind each wheel, so the driver was able to back onto the clear spot and then drive away. fortunately, the snow hadn't packed to ice, yet at that time.

Relaxing video to watch when these are the normal driving conditions where you live.

Back when I was 17, I had to do a 100 mile ride on my bike to get back home. Norfolk was under a couple of feet of snow, and several roads - including the major trunk road - were impassable, meaning I had to go along country roads simply to get anywhere. Even that was riding on an inch or two of packed ice. Riding with my legs braced against the tank, I effectively had 4 points of contact on the ground, so was able to keep upright and keep moving, though corners were tricky. I got to the southern edge of the county - a 20 mile journey - after 2 hours. The ice literally gave way to clear roads when I reached Suffolk, so the remainder of the journey was at normal speeds, but that was a day I'll not forget.

Very good, this driver stands a better chance than most of keeping dent free in the snow

If you've ever piloted a canal boat this kind of planning is needed everywhere you go. You're only doing a maximum of 4 mph, but the boat weighs upwards of a ton and needs a lot of time and energy to manoeuvre. You need to plan one to two minutes in advance - not only to have enough time to manoeuvre your boat - but also to signal your intentions to others so that they can plan their own manoeuvres. It's a great exercise in learning how to operate vehicles in conditions where traction is low

It's exactly these sorts of conditions where proper winter tyres make the most difference, even the "friction" type without ice studs. If you spend a lot of time on the road, I would recommend investing in a set and keeping them on their own rims, then simply use them routinely from December to April.

The biggest issue is that we very rarely fit snow tyres in the UK, times of snow are seldom so we don’t bother. So when the snow does come All be it seldom we cannot deal with it. In other counties where the snow comes and stays for months every year, they all fit snow tyres as a matter of course. [snow socks are a brilliant thing to keep in your car just in case, if you get caught in snow fit the snow socks and they will get you home]

@PedroConejo1939

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely, though I have compromised with all-seasons. They've never let me down.

@markgambrill

Жыл бұрын

They are NOT snow tyres. They are winter tyres. The improvement they offer in all cold conditions is what makes them superior even in the UK from Nov to Mar. We need to get away from this thinking that they are for snow only.

@bazzacuda_

Жыл бұрын

Cars and the tyres fitted to them have changed a lot in the last 40 years. Snow tyres have only been made necessary by the evolution to big, wide, high speed tyres. Force over area is still the critical equation in snow. The effect of big wide tyres is that they compact and flatten the snow leaving an ice rink where in the olden days cars would churn the snow on the road. So even though we used to have a lot more snow and never used to have special snow tyres, we were a lot better able to drive in snow when it came.

@dlevi67

Жыл бұрын

@@bazzacuda_ I remember my 135/70 R13 not exactly having a happy time in snow in the 1970s...They weren't big, wide or high speed (rated S). If you wanted to go in snow or on ice you still needed chains or studs; if anything, more than nowadays.

@pete7279

Жыл бұрын

@@dlevi67 135/70R13 will be similar to the 135/80R12 I used to get all over the place in the north pennines back then on a Mk1 Fiesta. Set of chains in the back just in case but rarely needed. These were narrow tyres so used to cut through the snow and grip. Same with the 15inch wheels on the old Saabs when most other cars of that size had 13inch rims. Didn't often need special tyres in those days and when you did see them they were mud and snow with aggressive tread rather than the winter pattern you get now using softer rubber. The trend over the last few decades is for tyres to get wider and wider and a typical car nowadays has trouble on the flat in shallow snow never mind hills. Traction/handling in snow is totally transformed if you put a set of modern winter tyres on. Even better if you get a spare set of standard narrow rims like what a lot of our neighbouring countries sell as standard. My last Citroen had uk spec had 205/50R17 wheels while French spec was 195/65R15 so that is what I used for winter. Much cheaper more comfortable ride and insurance company happy as they were an official homologated fit.

lbS is probably looking at this and calling it a light sprinkle of snow if he's still in Canada! 😀

@thomaselliot2257

Жыл бұрын

Just watching just now, looking at the comments and I was thinking the same thing 😀

@kenbrown2808

Жыл бұрын

it's a bit less than what we had here, but still a respectable snowfall. I think he's on his way back to the UK at present, and I missed the chance to meet with him, but perhaps on his next trip.

@thomaselliot2257

Жыл бұрын

@@kenbrown2808 I forgot you are in that neck of the woods as well. You will have more than your fair share of experience in these conditions I am sure 🙂

Well done to all those doing such a good job in in unusual and tricky conditions.

To echo other comments, tyres tyres tyres! A winter tyre or even a reasonable cross climate tyre would make conditions like those shown a non-issue to most competent drivers. A FWD car on winter tyres will easily out perform a 4x4 in these conditions. The current generation of cross climate tyres that have mud and snow certification will do a great job and can be used in summer as well, making them more practical than a second set of wheels for most people, and are probably ideal for most UK conditions.

Grew up in Wisconsin, learned to drive on ice... Later, while living in Guernsey, it actually snowed :). Chaos reigned.

Things I've learnt about motorbiking in snow: no front braking (I remember gently touching it, and next thing I know I'm standing on my feet and my bike is falling from underneath me), no leaning, drag the rear brake with the throttle on if there's a risk of wheel spin (or if you want to slow down), and good clutch control

I had to go to our other works once in Newcastle when the roads were like this. At work I commented on the amount of snow and was told "Whey aye, man, that's just a hard frost." Seriously, if you have a vehicle with rear-wheel drive, it pays to pull the handbrake on one or two clicks to prevent wheel spin and therefore a skid on difficult corners or anywhere you feel it.

A skilled driver featured. A driving tip if you do get stuck in snow is to lower your tyre pressures considerably along with high road gears 👍🏽

As a new driver in South Wales in the early 80's I learnt to drive in the snow when it was above the roof of the car. Anticipation of others stupidity, speed is sometimes your friend and other times not. Learnt that boy scouts were all was right; be prepared

Cycling in these conditions is actually quite easy. I've got studded winter tyres that are excellent on sheet ice and light snow, plenty of grip. Much safer for everyone else too, I'm not going to knock down someones fence or house on a bicycle. If you come across a really deep bit, you can just shoulder the bike and walk through it. I also found the risk from motor vehicles far less than you might think, as most drivers are going very slowly. What is lethal, is when there's black ice, as some drivers are oblivious to the risk and go way too fast.

For starters, get the right equipment for the many weathers in the UK. I believe new cars should be sold with all season tyres as standard. All season tyres like the Cross Climate have come on loads in recent years. I use them in Aberdeenshire and they are durable, excellent in the wet and get me up and down all the steep hills in snow. I drive a FWD 1.2tsi VW Touran

Having seen various videos of what not to do in these conditions, it was a lovely refreshing change to see what to do in these conditions!

Since getting an EV with rear wheel drive and which automatically applies regen braking on the rear axle, I now run winter tyres/wheels from December to March. This transforms the handling of the car in snowy conditions making braking and steering much more effective.

@LinariaFreeze

Жыл бұрын

Same, I live in Scotland and love my snow tyres, but people are still trying to convince me that I'm wrong. Even when the weather's like this. I'm from Norway, so it's a non-brainer for me.

@markgambrill

Жыл бұрын

Not just for snow. Having tried cross climates that are coming to the end of life I am planning my route back to two sets of wheels. And I live in the south.

@Rover200Power

Жыл бұрын

What do you do on days like today where the temperature is over 13 degrees? Most winter tyre compounds are not suitable for temperatures over 7.

@markgambrill

Жыл бұрын

@@Rover200Power there will always be days at either end of the season where the tyres aren't quite spot on. But I'd rather a compromise for the odd day for the benefit of good tyres the rest of the year. It's a much better option than summer tyres year round which is what most in the UK do.

@markwright3161

Жыл бұрын

@@Rover200Power A good set of winter tyres won't melt the second the temperature enters double figures. They'll just be a bit softer so will offer less steering feel, etc and they will overheat if you're hoofing on in peak UK summer temps, so they'll wear quicker, but apart from that you're not going to see them fall off the car just because they're not in their ideal operating temperate range of sub 7 degrees Celsius. Summer tyres aren't designed to work below 7 degrees Celsius, but they don't shatter like glass the moment it hits freezing. There people driving around on summers when it's -10 degrees C, 17+ degrees below what they're intended for, and it's the same for winters at 24+ degrees C, not advisable, but not the end of the world either. I've gone with a set of All Season* tyres myself. No need to switch, won't get stuck in a wee bit of snow or go rock hard in low temps, but won't melt in high summer temps either. *European AS with the 3 peak snowflake.

When I was Instructing I tried to avoid cancelling lessons due to bad weather and snow, unless it was an absolute no go. I always believed it was a good idea even if it was only driving around an industrial area or similar. On some occasions a large open space like an empty car park, I would allow the pupil to make mistakes to let them see what happens if you get it wrong, then discuss how to put it right. As I live in the Northeast, a lot of my pupils lived in rural areas, so helped them for their future driving experience.

I watched a video by another DI right after I passed my test about snow driving and found it invaluable. people here really do not drive to the conditions of the road. Snow = bigger distancing between vehicles and drive low and slow on flat, so lower gear and lower speed to match the conditions. Smooth pedal work too. I also advocate for investing in decent cross climate tyres or just decent tyres in general, people don't change tyres with the season. I know lots of people who wont even drive in snow. ALso if you do hit ice and spin out, drive into it not out.

I remember about 10 years ago being on the Motorway, my car had awd and winter tyres, taking it easy in the heavy snow fall, a merc sprinter enters the motorway off another motorway, crosses all 4 lanes and nearly hits the barrier, I avoided them due to better traction in the poor conditions but they were going far too fast and nearly paid the price for it.

Always worth know whether your car is front wheel, rear wheel or all wheel drive so you can find grip if needed.

I have ridden my motorbike in snow numerous times out of need, I can cope with the conditions, but other vehicles make it dangerous. They get far too close and go too fast mostly. Let some air out of the tyres, both feet down, gentle throttle control, avoid ruts. Edit: And of course know when to give up,.I had to do that a couple of times and head back.

@eddyrourke5514

Жыл бұрын

Yes those idiots (like the van driver shown in the clip) who tailgate make things really scary, you cannot help thinking about the 🔔ends driving over you if you slip.

Being a rural driver, all these techniques are practically essential if you don’t want to be unable to climb a rise or end up in a hedge. Even so, I spend some time in a empty car park re-acclimatising to the slide and grip before venturing out on a deep snow covered road.

Yup, really enjoy driving in snow and slippery conditions.

Learnt to drive in Bradway in Sheffield during the winter of 1986. Prepared me nicely...

Starting point before thinking about driving in snow is whether the vehicle tyres are up to the job. If not you see what I did last Friday, Mr 4x4 Ford Kuga going nowhere as all four wheels slipped on about an inch of snow on our street which is about 1 in 10. I suspect his vehicle had nice worn summer tyres as I'd just negotiated the same hill in a FWD with almost new all season tyres with no issue whatsoever. He ended up abandoning and turning around.

From the motorcyclist point of view, I can't recommend off road training enough. Not only is it great fun, it builds your skills for when traction is low and makes you appreciate how tiring it is both mentally and physically to keep it upright. If I were on normal road tyres in conditions such as this I would find somewhere safe and secure to park up and I'd get the bus. If I had some chunkier tyres as I suspect the bike in your clip might have had as it was an adventure bike then I'd be happier to continue, but it would depend on how far I was going. Not only is it demanding on body and mind to ride any distance in conditions such as this, the cold and the wet would make it even harder and more unpleasant.

The conditions were not bad but it just goes to show the level of social interaction today. Do not stop to see if the van driver needed help. This would have happened forty years ago. I stopped in conditions far worse on a journey from Scotland to Newcastle. We helped a big car with two lads returning from the oil rigs. Teamed up and then came across a VW Beatle stuck. Four lads from NZ. We formed a convoy and helped each other. We then came across an old couple stuck at the bottom of a hill in the middle of nowhere, they had his father in the back and were trying to clear snow with a little fire shovel. We had to leave them, but rang the emergency services at the first village we came to ( no mobile phones then) We learned later that they had been helicoptered out. On the radio it said that the A1 north of Newcastle was impassable. We got through with teamwork.

One thing I found helpful if on an incline is to start in 2nd gear to avoid wheel spin , starting off from a stationary position. Avoid A roads if motorways are availablity as they are always gritted and are in constant use so not letting snow have chance to settle

4:48 I remember a 25-odd mile ride back home on a BMW R100RT following the gritter lorry (that also had a snow plough) when I rode into a storm on the edge of Exmoor about 30 years ago. Old Beemer's skinny tyres are pretty good on fresh snow but just as bad as anything else when people have driven over it. Turned out the driver drank in the same pub and said he'd spotted me and was impressed that I made it the whole way back! Modern bikes are not good in slippery conditions - I'd imagine they are horrendous in snow.

When in snow I've always driven downhill in first gear for better braking, lessening the need to use the brake peddle and the risk of sliding about. Start off from a standing start in second or third gear and go uphill in third or fourth for gain added torque. Used this technique all my life and its never failed.

Your viewer did a great job in all of the clips, I have taken a lot from this, I think it'll make me a better driver in any weather!

Back in the mid 80's i was sent home from work, due to a sudden snow storm. This was in the south west uk where snow rarely happens. Because of the amount of traffic and bad driving , (by others) it took 2 hours to drive 5 miles. I coped with the hills by taking a run, and driving on the undisturbed snow if possible as it gave better grip. My father was surprised to see me in my car. He was expecting a call for help or that I would walk home. My car at the time was a Ford Capri, probably 1 of the worst at driving in conditions like that.

The spade you use when you get caught short can come in handy 😅😊😅😊

As alluded to in this upload; you often get more grip in several centimeters of Snow, rather than following the path that other vehicles have travelled. Its even harder when the Snow turns into Ice....... virtually no grip whatsoever. People could learn from 🍁, 🇸🇪 or a number of other drivers who encounter these conditions for several months of the year; especially North of the Arctic Circle where the Snow rarely melts. Stay safe out there.

It helps if people had a basic understanding of the laws of physics and an understanding of basic mechanics. (a moving object always wants to travel in a straight line, and once your wheels start spinning, you've completely lost traction). Also, if your car is rear wheel drive and you have a manual handbrake, partially applying it can help with traction. Yes, really.

@1988dgs

Жыл бұрын

Covid and flat earth theory etc has taught us the majority of people didn’t pay enough attention in science class at school

@paul756uk2

Жыл бұрын

@@1988dgs Never believed any of the covid bs whatsoever and from the very start.

I was taught by my brother to drive in snow; he knew what he was doing as he was in the Army and drove in all sorts; from snow to sand to mud to water you name it. He even showed me the quickest way to stop a car in snow & ice and even I was surprised just how quickly it can be done by a skilled driver. Sadly modern cars take that control over the brakes away so aren't as good at stopping in snow.

I have been caught in snow many times when i was using my motorbike all year around. My approach was always to drop tyre pressures drastically to increase the tyre contact patch and try to stay on fresh snow as it always offered more grip than compacted snow. Then it was just a matter of staying at a safe speed and keeping a good space in front always watching and planning ahead giving you the best possible chance of avoiding a collision. I often found i paid more attention to other road users as they were often the ones that would put you in most danger with not knowing how to recover from a skid/lockup. Always try to have an exit plan where possible and anticipate what might happen. Its all things that come natural when riding a motorbike because you soon learn it hurts when a 1 ton car hits you otherwise. You are always going to come off worse due to lack of protection.

In my motorcycling days back in the 70's I unfortunately got caught out several times while commuting, by weather like that. Never had to park up and use Shanks's Pony though. The worst I found is where several vehicles have left deep tracks that cross. If you get the front wheel in one and the rear in another you can quickly come unglued. Just slow and steady got me to my destination. Cold and numb, but relieved.

The best vehicles I've driven in snow are my current Berlingo van on winter tyres and a few years back, a Reliant Rialto. A lot of years on motorcycles taught me one thing, fresh snow on top of frozen slush is really hard work. Lots of good advice in this clip, but until the average UK driver is persuaded that winter tyres are not just a good idea, but a necessity, we will always have more problems than we need on snowy days.

I've never had a problem driving in snow, my best advice is to do everything gently. gentle braking, gentle acceleration and gentle turning. gives you the best chance of keeping control.

The biggest issue with winter driving is the lack of awareness people think its just like summer. I live on a steep hill and as i was coming down this woman thought it was a good idea to start coming up the hill and expect me to be able to stop and pull into a gap on my left. I would like to add i was also slipping on ice down the hill making it even more tense, luckily i managed to get some grip. But her inability to wait 20 seconds nearly cost us both. I am not without fault but i do my best to think.

Exemplary drive by your viewer. Thank you! Also, I think these conditions bring out the best in people and cause them to work together.

I enjoyed driving to work the other day when it was snowy. It was a good test of the snow mode on my Kona N and I have to say that I was very impressed. With 280bhp and P-0's fitted I was expecting it to be a lot harder than it was but, frankly it was a breeze. One of the things I did was I tested what my cars limits are when I was on a clear bit of road, close to home. I gave it a bit of power to learn where the limits were, I went hard on the breaks to see where ABS would kick in and I gave the wheel a bit of a back an forth to see what turning was like. Then, it was simply a case of not going anywhere near those limits. It wasn't a bad drive, I was out early so I was on a lot of fresh stuff but also less traffic. I got stuck in a little traffic jam because a car in front had a crash, being stationary for so long meant I had to get out to de-snow my mirrors and side windows but that was about it.

All good. I found that avoiding gear changing helps. Whenever the transmission stops drive (clutch in to change gear), you have to hope you regain gentle traction as the next gear engages. Obviously on manual cars, but also automated systems such as VW group DSG + ASG. The Honda I drive is a CVT automatic and this seems very good in snow & ice. Constantly engaged drive. Sport mode can provide decent engine braking to avoid using brakes. In conditions similar to the video, the Honda is way ahead of the VW DSG, simply night and day. The Vauxhall I had years ago was a 4 speed traditional torque converter automatic, and that had a winter function too. Truly impressive for a front drive car. Would also work well to get out of mud as well. Best manual car I had for snow was a 2005 VW polo 1.4 TDI 5 speed. that would potter around town in the snow all day long just using 2nd + 3rd gear.

As someone who used to commute on a motorbike, I got caught out a few times. Firstly, slow it down and take it steady, try to keep your feet up if you can and keep your head up, secondly try to keep out of slush, its way more slippy than fresh snow and thirdly dont be afraid to stop when safe to, to let cars behind you get past.

A part of me enjoys the challenge of driving in the snow. Certainly a different challenge. The key to everything is time. Give yourself loads of time and then a load more after that. And definitely keep the wheels turning where you can. I’ve had read wheel drive cars since 2009 and have always managed to get around. Negotiating with others and helping each other out has never been more important than in conditions like this. Stay safe everyone

@jackwatsonepic626

Жыл бұрын

Well when I was 21 I used to think it was fun but soon as I reached 41 I had more sense " 😂

@djwwautodiagnostics

Жыл бұрын

@@jackwatsonepic626 yup. I’m 40 now and definitely try to avoid. If it was just me it would be fine. It’s that business of having to share the road that complicates things

@jackwatsonepic626

Жыл бұрын

@@djwwautodiagnostics like I always say it's not your driving you've got worried about

when I was a lad I did take a bike out in the snow, more than once, and as that looked like an adventure bike, it could probably handle it, though not as well as the dirt bikes we were riding. one trick is to wind a natural fiber rope around the tire something like tire chains. it gives a bit more bite. as for my skills, I ended up out three times the morning we had ourfrom heavy snow. not only made it there and back again safely every time, but helped out other people who were in trouble. point of pride, each time I returned home, I parked the car exactly in the space I'd pulled out from. and except for the first trip which was made in a bit of a rush, I had all the snow cleared from the car to keep it blowing or sliding off. one point not in the video - sometimes the road will have a steep bank angle in the corner, and in that case, you are stuck with the equally poor choices of carrying enough speed through the corner to keep gravity from pulling you down the inside, or riding around the upper edge to get off the banking. another point not in the video - heavy snow will tend to get rutted a bit like a muddy dirt road, and drivers need to be aware of that, as well.

Passed in the summer and then went to Eastern Europe in December, where there was a lot of snow. Good learning experience.

Some good points, and I totally agree that one size does not fit all with driving style and road conditions, we should be adapting our technique to the conditions. A couple of points, which I feel could have been made:- Use engine braking over manual braking, which has two benefits 1. The likelihood of breaking traction is greatly reduced. 2. By using the engine to brake you will be travelling at a far more suitable rate of knots (I think of it as trying to control an oil tanker!). Also try to run in a higher gear, where the power will come in much slower and make wheel spin less likely. The biggest thing though is tyre choice - narrow tyres are good for fresh snow, whereas studded tyres are better for compacted and iced roads. This is not that likely in this country, that conditions warrant having different tyres for the conditions though, but snow socks are an option. The biggest problem with modern cars though is the width of the tyres and the road biased tread pattern, which all act against you. The final point is that people experience these conditions so infrequently nowadays that most have no clue as to how to behave. Thanks for a slightly different video.

@smilerbob

Жыл бұрын

I use engine braking all the time in icy conditions along with the higher gear. After an unrelated accident I was given a hire car that was an automatic with a manual shift option but I found I had less control of the car the first time I drove the automatic in these conditions, even in manual mode, it would down shift the gear as I went round corners and the engine speed then increased that resulted in the smallest but noticeable wheel slip as the drive mechanisms adjusted the torque being applied. I found that I had to adjust my driving to slow 5 seconds sooner for the corner so the car could decide on what gear it wanted. Something that only came from experience for me and wasn't taught to me on my manual lessons

@chrispop99

Жыл бұрын

Studded tyres are illegal on a motor vehicle;e in the UK. (They are legal, and available, for cycles, strangely enough.)

Great video as always, thank you. I had the chance to drive a full spec 4x4 in the snow with auto everything and it was rubbish compared to my mark 2 Land Rover with manual everything. The difference was down to the tyres, my Landie with old style narrow tyres would cut through the snow and grip. The auto everything had much wider tyres an just floated.

As a year round motorbike rider I'll say I'd treat it pretty similar to how our buddy did there, he was taking it slow with his indicator on to let people know they can pass should they need to save them getting stuck. It is doable in this condition but you have to just be prepared for the tyres to swing out and be ready to maybe hop off and do your best to use the clutch and throttle to push the bike in more precarious situations

Being in Sheffield when it snows is funny. I've seen kids in the the boots of BMW's as they try to get more traction. 4x4 owners getting overtaken by 2wheel drive vehicles. A set of good tyres, even if just summer tyres, *can* make all the difference. Working near Brook Hill, you see all the people trying to get to work at the hospital. Netherthorpe Road, a fairly steep hill, will often have abandoned cars that couldn't get up it. When I was staying in West Sheffield, I had to get up Upper Hanover Street, opposite Netherthorpe Road. I was sat there for a good 10 mins watching cars struggling to get up. Even one that looped around all the other struggling only to get stuck. I then had a clear path and just drove straight up with no issue (however I didn't spot the car wheel spinning next to me until the edit, otherwise I'd have waited) as I had 2 new front tyres about 2 weeks earlier. Just some planning and decent tyres got me where I wanted to go

Had my first taste of really snowy conditions here in Denmark not too long ago. Already had my semi-slicks tyres installed cause I figured the snow was gone by now. No traction control didn't help either, so I was driving 20mph all the way to work. Thankfully I had a nice van driver behind me who gave me enough breathing room so I didn't skid into the other road and left me with good braking space. That's probably the last time I will be so early to put on summer tyres 😅

40years of off-road driving and living on the tops of the Pennines the best advice is drive smoothly ,no hitting any of the pedals especially the brakes.

I had 4 new crossclimate 2 tyres fitted the week before this snow happened. Brilliant handling in the snow and felt as good as winter tyres

I live in Finland and ride a motorcycle. The motorcycle goes away for winter well before risk of snow. The moment that temperatures are showing 0 degrees at night the bike is staying in the garage and not coming out again until roads are clear from snow again in the spring. Mopeds can be okay for short trips but there's no safe way to ride on public roads at higher speeds. As someone from a country with months of snow every year it's really interesting how much trouble it causes when people aren't used to it and trained to drive on it; a short snowy roads driving course is mandatory to get a license here and apart from major snowstorms people don't have issues getting around in their cars. Speed limits on national roads and highways are lowered for the winter though.

Your viewer is such a good and considerate drivers, its great to see, also the snow is beautiful

Even with AWD sometimes is hard in summer tyres, thata why in winter in always carry tyre chains in the car, saved a couple of times, the biggest ones was some years ago when everyone was stuck on the M25 i managed to get home easily and even help some people.

Excellent driving. I wish I was that canny!

Having been trained to drive and driven in worse conditions around the world my advice would be to stay at home with a brew and watch TV. Planning ahead includes keeping an eye on the weather conditions for your whole route.

Great work by the viewers that sent in those clips. So refreshing to see such respectful nature to those conditions 👍 It scares me immensely the amount of people that have ABS and traction control in their vehicles and believe that means they can drive like “normal” in those conditions. Many an occasion I have stopped to help those that got into trouble or slowed when seeing a vehicle in trouble like at 5:04.

@robwilkie1

Жыл бұрын

Or people who say they have 4WD. Always have to ask them how that helps steering and braking!!

Ive seen drivers in 4x4 s trying to overtake a whole column of stopped cars at the bottom of a hill when a motorist was stuck half way up the hill...and the 4x4 even with a passenger trying to push it got stuck on the wrong side of the road. luckily at that time i was opposite a clear drive way and was able to turn around and find another route away from the situation.

I still need to be convinced about sounding the horn on blind corners/dips. I think it makes little to no difference. Considering the distance, shrubbery/walls acting as a buffer, increased sound insulation in modern cars, car radios playing, etc. would the potential motorist coming from the opposite direction even hear the horn's sound. I understand the logic, but I think the reality is that the other motorists won't hear it. If they do, what are they supposed to do. If they have momentum themselves in such a situation, braking hastily after hearing another car beeping could result in them loosing traction and veering across the road to the other side. Approaching at a reasonable speed is all that's needed in my opinion.