Hard packed snow and ice offer the worst tire traction.
On these surfaces, it’s very easy to lose control. On
wet ice, for example, the traction is
so
poor that you will
have difficulty accelerating. And
if
you do get moving,
poor steering and difficult braking can cause you to slide
out of control.
If the water isn’t too deep, drive slowly through it. At
faster speeds, water splashes
on
your ignition system
and your vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur
if
you
get your tailpipe under water. And,
as long as your
tailpipe is under water, you’ll never be able to start your
engine. When you go through water, remember that
when your brakes get wet, it may take you longer
to stop.
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds or rivers can be
dangerous. Underwater springs, currents
under the ice, or sudden thaws can weaken the
ice. Your vehicle could fall through the ice and
you and your passengers could drown. Drive
Driving in
Water
Heavy rain can mean flash flooding, and flood waters
demand extreme caution.
Find out how deep the water is before you drive through
it.
If
it’s deep enough to cover your wheel hubs, axles
or exhaust pipe, don’t try it
-
you probably won’t
get through.
Also,
water that deep can damage your
axle and other vehicle parts.
Driving through rushing water can be
dangerous. Deep water can sweep your vehicle
downstream and you and your passengers
could drown. If
it’s
only shallow water,
it
can
still wash away the ground from under your
tires, and you could lose traction and roll the
vehicle over. Don’t drive through rushing
water.
See
Driving in Rain and on
Wet
Roads on page
4-38
for
more information on driving through water.
4-35
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