'10 Prius handles great in emergency...

The problem with idiots with 4WD is they don't realize they have the same 4 wheel brakes and tires the rest of the world have, and driving like a fool is equally dangerous regardless if you have 4WD or not. 4 wheel go means nothing if you can't stop...

 

Good Driving Ted !

 

nice, well not for the other guy.

He probally also did not have stability control like you do, I think a car with stability control can outperform any fwd non stability control vehicle, especially in sliding condition as you described.

 

i'm requesting the removel of these scary near fatal prius accident threads.

 

:rockon:

 

I think this is a 'scary near fender bender' thread but we can't be too protected from distressing sheet metal bending. :banplease:

 

tedjohnson,

How much of your ability to go zigging and zagging on the slippery
stuff would you attribute to the Blizzaks?

Just wondering how they helped. I've got a set on extra rims, but
thankfully no reason to mount them in Ballamer... yet.

 

You can credit the the good handling Prius to your Blizzaks plain and simple.:cheer2: H

 

:rockon:

The only thing that would make your story better: "I rolled down the window and gave him a one finger salute as I passed by."

 

I would say, a lot of it. My half-worn-out OEM Ecopias were terrible in Seattle's recent snow, and would not have successfully pulled off this maneuver.

But I was quite happy with how the ABS/TC/VSC made excellent use of what little traction was available.

 

Thin sheet of ice on road??? I don't understand....

 

You practiced a critical element of emergency performance driving.
You're often times much better off to drive around a hazard that to try and stop short of it.
The trick here is in your vision. Look at where you want to go, not at what you're trying to avoid.
Quickly move your eyes to an escape route, and steer through the danger zone in a fluid motion.
The inexperienced and untrained tend to look right at the hazard with wide eyes and lock up the brakes, usually resulting in a collision. Trained drivers will always be thinking of escape routes and won't pin themselves in. This means always being aware of the traffic and roadway lanes around you. It's basic driver training for emergency responders.

 

I've been in a few close calls in my Prius where I had to swerve and accelerate. Nicely done. Welcome to the cluuubbb.

 

I would say this was 35% Prius and 65% good defensive driving. The main thing is that you slowed down and looked for trouble before it started. Great Job!

The week I got my Prius I had a deer run right out in front of me and I got to admit the brakes/ABS worked great; neither the deer or the Prius got hurt.

TED

 

Smart move to slow down early. The VSC on the Prius can make it hard to really appreciate how slippery the conditions have become. You don't get a lot of the early warning squirrelliness that we had with older cars. It's a good thing, but something your need to appreciate.

As for the tires verses VSC debate, both contribute to good winter handling. With bad tires, there isn't much VSC can do to help. The tires are the only thing that generates friction with the road. Without friction, you are no longer driving, you are just along for the ride.

Tom

 

I was actually pointing out that it would be very rare to actually see any ice on the road where I live...that said I appreciate the clarificaiton because if for some reason I ever did have to drive on an Icy road I would be very ill prepared. You cold weather people certainly have skills that I have never had a chance to develop. On the other hand I can cool down a 130 degree interior in 5 mins.