When it comes to driving in cold weather, one thing to watch out for is road surface freezing (ice burn). Water starts to freeze at 0 degrees Celsius, but the temperature on the road is different from the air temperature, so the road may freeze even when the temperature is not below freezing. In addition, when it snows, the snow is compacted by the driving of the car, which is called “compacted snow ice”. When this is further run and polished to a shine, it seems to become a more slippery “mirror burn”. We asked Mr. Takashi Konishi, a driving instructor at Karasuyama Driving School (Nasukarasuyama City, Tochigi Prefecture), regarding points to be aware of when driving on frozen roads.
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Is the road slippery when it’s not snowing?ice burn pitfalls
On a chilly morning, the car slipped lightly while driving, and it was a terrifying experience. Slips that cause the car to lose control are more common on icy roads. However, according to Mr. Konishi, this road surface freezing seems to occur even when the outside temperature is not below freezing.
“It is said that when the temperature drops below 3 degrees, the surface temperature drops below 0 degrees and freezing begins. It is important to leave and drive carefully to avoid sudden maneuvers.”
Before that, the most important thing is to prepare tires that can grip the slippery road surface. Of course, studless tires are “consumables”, so please pay attention to the number of years of use.
“Be prepared early by equipping yourself with studless tires or carrying tire chains. It is said that the effectiveness of studless tires will decrease following four to five years, so don’t be overconfident even if there is still some tread left. No. If the platform portion, which represents the limit of effectiveness as a studless tire, is exposed, it can be dangerous to drive on snowy or icy roads.”
What if you slip even though you’re ready?What is the correct way to deal with
What should I do when I notice freezing following I actually start running?
“Reduce your speed as much as possible and keep a sufficient distance between vehicles. Sudden operations such as sudden starts, sudden braking, and sharp turns, and the same speed and distance between vehicles as on a dry road surface are dangerous. If you are worried regarding driving. If you feel this, or if you don’t have studless tires or tire chains, it’s important to make the decision to turn back without overdoing it.”
However, even if you turn back, you need to be careful when driving. If you actually slip, there is a technology to suppress the sideslip, but it seems that it is very difficult.
“If the rear wheels skid, you can control the skidding by releasing the accelerator and turning the steering wheel in the direction where the rear wheels slipped, but it is a very difficult technique. If not, keep your brakes firmly on to minimize damage.”
It seems like the best way to deal with it is to minimize the damage. Full-fledged cold and snow are yet to come. Pay attention to weather information and drive safely.
(Hint-Pot editorial department)
