We are now well and truly into that time of year when your life and that of others may well depend on paying attention to your job — driving.
When you are addressing an important business meeting or completing a complicated task on the assembly line, you aren’t thinking of anything else.
Preparing an elaborate meal takes all our concentration, as does conversing with a friend or co-worker.
Rarely do we think of anything but the shot when addressing a golf ball.
Why is it then, that when we are at the wheel, we are thinking about that presentation, meal, golf game or conversation?
Driving is one of the most important jobs we will ever have — every time we are at the wheel lives are at risk.
A vast majority of crashes are caused by inattention or not paying attention in time to do something.
As driving conditions deteriorate, it becomes even more critical to pay strict attention to what we are doing; that’s the primary rule for survival on winter roads, but there are some others.
Eyes up — way up
We can’t see, steer or stop as well, so we need more time to do any of the above. We need additional time and space to identify and react.
Adjust your speed to conditions. No amount of training, experience, professionalism or technology will bail you out of a situation if you are driving too fast for conditions.
AWD, 4WD
Don’t think because you’ve got better traction under acceleration you’ve won the war. You will have to stop and when that time comes, all- or four-wheel-drive can be a real danger — it does absolutely nothing for stopping distances. In fact, vehicles so equipped are often at a disadvantage because they are commonly have a higher centre of gravity, more open tire tread, and are heavier.
Think of grip
Just like walking on glare ice or skiing down a slippery slope — be aware of your contact patches — where you touch the ground. In your vehicle, the four little spots where your tires hit the road. Grip — constantly monitor it, adjust for it, check/test it, maximize it.
Avoid input while cornering
On very slippery surfaces do your braking in a straight line; try to keep your foot off the gas or brake in turns to minimize extraneous input leaving all available traction for turning. Don’t get back on the gas until you are straightened out.
Be smooth
This one single driver skill will prevent more problems than perhaps any other. A light touch on the controls, treat the steering wheel, gas and brake pedals as if they were empty egg shells. Drive as if you had a cup of scalding hot coffee in your lap. Avoid sudden, violent or jerky inputs.
Braking
Here again smoothness counts. Remember when you apply the brakes you are transferring hundreds of pounds or kilos of weight from the rear tires unto the fronts. Try to make sure that extra load arrives there gradually — not all in one big pounce. If you sense the brakes locking up release small amount of pressure — “never pump the brakes” under any circumstances. This does nothing more than ensure the vehicle is in a constant state of confusion, repeatedly and abruptly changing the load on the contact patches.
ABS
Anti-lock brakes are not a miracle worker. A vehicle equipped with ABS will not stop any sooner. Even with ABS, a smooth, gentle application of brakes will yield improved results. Remember that ABS won’t reduce braking distances, it is designed to keep the tires rotating, giving you a chance to steer around the problem.
Find a big, empty parking lot that you know to have a smooth surface — and take a half hour from your busy life to learn how to save it — try steering and learn how reducing steering input will restore control. Try braking to get a feel for ABS or if you don’t have ABS, how to reduce input just enough to allow wheels to turn.
