Even when you are taking full precautions when driving in the winter, you can still find yourself in a situation where your car begins to slide out of control. This is when the roads are covered in a lot of ice and snow. To overcome this problem, snowplows are key players in making the roads a safe place to drive.
Overcorrecting
If you are caught in a situation where the car keeps slipping away due to unplowed and very slippery road, then you may end up in a situation called understeer. This is an instance where you are driving, but the car keeps slipping away regardless. This happens when you are approaching the corner too fast.
To get your traction back from this occurrence, you may have to slightly unwind to get your traction back. Make sure that you do not apply the brakes or the throttle. When your car turns more than you intended, then this is called oversteer.
Similar rules apply when you get caught up in an oversteer situation, however, instead of keeping your steering wheel straight, you want to turn it in a direction that the rear of the car is sliding. Make sure that you step off the throttle and breaks until the car traction is regained.
Driving Habits when Coming Across Snowplow
While winter driving can be dangerous and hazardous, with proper preparation and adopting safe winter driving habits, you can easily arrive at your destination without any problem. Many accidents occur in the winter due to driver negligence.
One of the reckless habits of drivers involves passing the snowplow. If you encounter a snowplow in your path, you should not try to pass it in the first place. This is because the snowplow is clearing the road ahead of you so that you do not end up in a situation such as an understeer or oversteer.
Other hazardous occurrences that can come by passing a snowplow involves being stuck in a snow ditch, or digging your tire into deep snow. Thus, it is best to stay several feet away from the snowplow ahead. If in any case you must pass the machine due to emergency, you must be careful of the blind spot.
Blind spot is an area around the snow plow or any heavy vehicle that the driver cannot see with the help of mirrors. If you are at the blind spot, and you cannot see the snowplow’s tail light due to the snow blocking your vision, then the driver will turn into you. This instance can lead to a very fatal accident, and one that you should avoid at all costs.
Snowplows are incredible machines operated by skilled drivers. A team of snowplow drivers will often strategically align on the roads so that they can systematically clear out the snow and make the roads drivable for the people. This is why you must be patient and drive slow behind them in the midst of heavy snow.
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