Snow - what is the problem??

[711]

Looking at the news today, stories of loads of cars stranded on Bodmin due to a light dusting. Reminds of me of any time in Britain when it snows everyone just grinds to a halt.

WTF is going on though? Providing there is not so much snow that I can't see out of the windscreen I've never had a problem driving in the white stuff.

Anyone shed any light on this?

[711]

I guess that heavy vehicles and buses are going to have more of a problem with this, and they've got the capability to block the road pretty much completely.

I spent some time living in Sheffield, and most of the bus drivers knew from experience when it was best to just leave the bus in the bus stop rather than attempt the big hills.

I quite like the small slide or test braking techniques, given circumstances (being tail gated, etc). If we got more snow than we do, I reckon it could be a good idea for people to have a "snow license". If a person can't be bothered to train and think about the snow technique, it's not fair for them to be out blocking the roads for the rest of us

[711]

7db said:

711 said: I guess that heavy vehicles and buses are going to have more of a problem with this, and they've got the capability to block the road pretty much completely. I think they are going to have less trouble than little light things. The 7 loses grip like nobody's business on snow. Buses tend to have much of their available grip still available to them.

I drove my 7 in the snow, and it was a bit hairy I agree. The trouble with the 7 is that the heaviest thing over the back wheels is the driver's ass.

Perhaps it depends on how the load is distributed in a commercial vehicle, and which axels are driven. Also, there's a fair bit of momentum in a bus or lorry if it starts going the wrong way...

I'm not having a pop at drivers of large vehicles BTW. I'm sure that the majority apply much experience and care when faced with tough conditions. To be honest, most of the people I've seen struggling in snow have been operators of front wheel drive cars, which should really be having the easiest time of it.

This is my first year of 911 (930) turbo ownerhip as well, so I hope I have not spoken too soon

>> Edited by 711 on Sunday 27th November 17:38

[711]

7db said:

The issue with the lighter car -- as Stressed Dave has posted elsewhere -- is lower tyre ground pressure failing to cut through the muck. This combined with a greater reliance on chemical bonding for grip.

Good point.

7db said:

Good luck with the 911...

Thank you I've been planning on getting some more training at Millbrook or similar for a bit of practice with the car on the limit. Hopefully this will limit the amount of luck that I'll need, but the more the merrier