How do I do a 360° recovery if I should slip in the snow?

Question

Before you call me a jackass, I must state: No, I won't be trying this on a public road.

I'm new to driving in the snow, using a RWD car that lost it's TCS and ABS. The one time I took my car through heavy snow(built-up) I went at a decent pace, but could still feel the rear slipping here and there. I had to do 3 minor recoveries that day. I know about how braking, turning, and throttling too much will make the rear fly, so this question is for the rare case of hitting something on the road or having a wheel go over ice, resulting in the car going well beyond the usual recovery angle.

If there is no traffic, I should definitely just use the brakes and let the car slide sideways 'til it stops, I know. If there's traffic following behind, doing so may cause a pileup, thus, I imagine it would be safer to voluntarily make the rear slide a bit more, and doing a 360°. Out of the question if there's traffic ahead, obviously.

The question: How would I go about throttling and steering?

Blargh. I know you're all trying to be helpful and all, but I sorta mentioned I'm already capable of doing recoveries.

I'm basically looking for a basic how-to for steering and throttling to purposely spin the car a bit more into a better recovery angle. For example, a rear wheel hits a rock, the rear swings left and I'm nearly 180° around. Being able to counter-steer that would probably be harder than letting the car continue the spin, with the momentum and all. In this case, it'd probably be easier to let the car continue the swing until I'm about 300° around, then recovering the last 60°.

Answer 1

Check if your tiers are rated for that kind of weather. If you lose control in traffic tap your breaks enough to get the attention of drivers behind you without locking your breaks.Also stay calm and ride it out there is not much you can do once your in it. Good luck with that

Answer 2

Always turn into a skid...that is, turn the front tires in the same direction as the rear end is sliding to regain control. If the rear end is sliding out to the right, turn the front wheels to the right, etc.. Stay off the brakes and throttle until you regain control, if possible. Practice in an empty parking lot or deserted street/road. Keep some heavy items or sandbags in the trunk to improve traction. Try to place them near or behind the rear wheels on the trunk floor and make sure to have good winter driving tires.

Answer 3

Never hit the brakes, and steer toward the direction the rear of the car is sliding. Stay of the gas till you have it under control. Ms_beehaven was 100% correct. The parking lot practice sessions are the best way to get the feel for controlling a skid.

Answer 4

The only description of anyone who 360s and pulls out of it is "darn lucky".

Never use the brakes when sliding, it makes things worse. Letting the wheels turn gives them the best chance to regain traction. There is nothing you can do after you start sliding but to steer into the skid (if the rear kicks out right, you steer right to get back in front of it) to keep from spinning. Don't use throttle or brake.

The best thing is to drive smart, slow down and use your head so you don't start sliding. Increase the distance around you.

Answer 5

When you feel the vehicle losing control, first remove your foot from the accelerator, then if you need too, tap your brakes, BUT ONLY IF YOU MUST USE YOUR BRAKES.

When tapping your brakes, you want to do this in a 4/4 time in quarter notes (for the music folks) this is roughly a second to two seconds on the brake gently, when you feel it tugging on the vehicle to slow it down, you have applied all you want to apply nothing more.

Take your feet completely off the brakes in between to give yourself proper timing. Then re-apply it for another second or two. Repeat as needed.

You will find that just taking your foot off the accelerator is usually more than enough to regain control of your car.

Answer 6

When I learned to drive it was winter. My dad took me to a big snow covered parking lot and made me put the car into skids and then drive out of them. We spent hours doing this until I learned to control a car in a skid. You can be told how to do it but until you actually practice you haven't really learned anything. There's a reason race car drivers go out and do practice laps before the actual race...*wink*