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Any quick tips on driving on ice?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by perryma, Feb 26, 2008.

  1. Steamboatsig

    Steamboatsig Member

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    There is nothing more terrifying than stepping on the brakes and feeling the car accellerate!!!!:eek:

    If you find yourself skidding on ice and gaining speed, use the curb to help slow your car down. Drive along side the curb and make your tires grind against it. That is what the Toyota engineers designed the plastic hubcaps for. Lol. Snow banks work too, but they tend to suck your whole car in and spin you around. The snow on the side of the road will offer more traction than the glazed ice on the center of the road where all the cars have polished it to a mirror finish.
     
  2. Steamboatsig

    Steamboatsig Member

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  3. PrematurelyGray

    PrematurelyGray Junior Member

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    Oh my goodness! That reminds me of a time when I was 16 and walking to school just after an ice storm. An older student was driving down my brick street at 30 mph, completely oblivious to the conditions. Icy brick street! I heard the car coming behind me and turned just in time to see the driver lose control and slam into the telephone pole 12 feet directly in front of me.

    Scary! I was as frightened for the folks on the sidewalk as the drivers in that video.
     
  4. tgdetweiler

    tgdetweiler New Member

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    I wish there were some good tips for driving on ice. I try to avoid driving my prius whenever there is snow or ice. My experience when it is wet has been that if the front wheels start to spin the hybrid system stops moving the wheels and I go nowhere. This is a particularly scary situation. I hope that I never find this happening when I have to get out of the way of an oncoming motorists in a hurry.
     
  5. Steamboatsig

    Steamboatsig Member

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    You are right, it makes it more scary when there are cars or pedestrians around. There comes that point when you are spinning where there really isn't much you can do. Just hold on for the ride, and let go of the steering wheel just before impact (so you don't brake your thumbs). :eek:
     
  6. NoMoShocks

    NoMoShocks Electrical Engineer

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    Yes, this is true, and most states with severe weather allow the use of studded hubcaps or trim rings during the winter months.
     
  7. morpheusx

    morpheusx Professor Chaos

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    It wont help you that way, the best thing you could do in that situation is make sure you have plenty of momentum before you start your climb. Driving in B while in snow or ice gives the additional braking from the engine, and will keep you from gaining additional speed while descending down a hill. I find it to be more controllable then anti-lock brakes.