Changes in the weather conditions can challenge the most experienced Security Driver. These are some winter driving tips taken from my book Professional Driving Techniques.

Clean your windshield, back window, and side mirrors.

When driving from dry conditions to ice the traction to maneuver your vehicle decreases by 65%. Driving from snow to ice decreases the vehicle’s capability by 49%.

No 4WD system will make up for the 65% decrease in traction. If there is less adhesion between the tire and the road, the vehicle’s capability is greatly diminished.

That’s not to say that 4WD is not useful in bad weather. It might be enough to get the vehicle up snow covered hills and to get the vehicle moving from a stop position where 2WD would not be able to accomplish that.

The problem is that most 4WD/AWD drivers think they have a vehicle that can defy the laws of physics. However, once the vehicle is moving the laws of physics for all vehicles are equal.

A 4WD vehicle will do a better job of getting the vehicle moving than a 2WD vehicle. But once the brakes are applied a 4WD is like all other vehicles, the driver is at the mercy of the tire road adhesion.

If you are on a steep hill and in packed snow 4WD is a big help, but if you are on the same hill driving up the hill on the ice it’s of very little help.

Only tire chains, increase the traction of rubber tires on snow and ice significantly.

Although this has been said many times and many ways, stopping on snow and ice may require up to 10 times the distance as stopping in normal conditions.

When driving in bad weather the best advice is slow down.

Additional Information Cold Weather Driving