Note: If it is winter, then it is suggested this lesson be taught earlier in the course.

Purpose

To introduce the student to winter driving and other conditions of reduced traction and visibility .

Duration: 120 minutes.

Learning Objectives

Performance Objectives

Actively participate in discussions and slide/video presentations.

Knowledge Objectives

At night and during rain, know how to:

• carry out normal accelerating, stopping, and turning;
• select the speed;
• select an optimal following time;
• establish proper eye use;
• establish and maintain lane control;
• change lanes;
• enter, exit, and merge;
• deal with intersections;
• implement the IPDE process (CCT);
• use headlights;
• share the road; and,
• drive in a fuel-efficient manner.

Teaching Points

1. The key to winter driving is to "buy" the time you need to carry out your actions.
2. Additional eye lead time and following time are essential in winter.
3. All movements must be started early and be carried out gently.
4. Good drivers always brake in a straight line.

Content

Normal Accelerating, Stopping, and Turning

• Under winter conditions, traction is usually reduced. The extent of the reduction varies tremendously with both the road surface and the temperature. The most slippery condition is ice, close to freezing point. As the temperature drops, greater traction is available. Often traction will be increased in the snow. Small amounts of gravel or sand will dramatically improve traction.
• As a test to see how slippery the road is, gradually apply the brake. If the road is very slippery, the wheels will begin to lock with minimal braking pressure. As traction increases, more braking pressure is required before a wheel locks.
• Hunt for traction, that is, look for parts of the road which offer more traction than others.
• Under slippery conditions, accelerator use must be gentle. Move the accelerator down slowly, and only push it a little way down. For fine accelerator control, rest the side of your foot against the transmission tunnel and roll your knee.
  Under slippery conditions, braking must also be gentle. Start early, push the brake down a little way, and threshold brake - see Driver's Handbook. The skill is to apply maximum braking without locking the wheel.
• Always brake in a straight line.
• Under slippery conditions, steering must be gentle. If the steering wheel is turned a great deal in a short time, the tires will stop rolling and will skid straight ahead. You will lose your ability to steer. The key is to put in a small amount of steering slowly so that the wheels keep rolling. If you have turned the wheels too far, then it is necessary to turn them back toward the central position so that they will begin to roll again, if you wish to regain steering control.
• During the first 10 minutes of a rainstorm, the road can be very slippery. This is because the oils and fumes on the road come to the surface, and it takes a while before they are washed away. Take extra care during this time.
• In heavy rain, it is possible for a vehicle to hydroplane, that is, tires slide on a film of water and do not make contact directly with the pavement. This dramatically reduces traction and therefore affects all manoeuvres, particularly steering and braking. If you find the steering is unresponsive and think you could be hydroplaning, slow down.

Speed Selection

• Speed should be reduced if vision decreases, or if traction decreases. If both vision and traction decrease, then speed should be reduced even further. Twelve seconds becomes the minimum sight distance required. If it is slippery on highways, increase the sight distance to 15 to 20 seconds. Your preselected sight distance will directly govern your speed.

Following Time

• For the first snow fall, double your following time - see Driver's Handbook.
• As traction decreases, increase your following time up to double, if necessary.

Eye Use

• On a slippery surface, more time will be required to execute a manoeuvre. Therefore, it is essential that you identify real and potential hazards as early as possible. Try to stretch your scanning patterns beyond the minimum 12 seconds. Otherwise, eye use patterns are the same.
• If the vehicle skids, remove the source of the skid (usually shift to neutral or declutch), look where you want the vehicle to go and steer there.

Lane Control

• It is desirable to have longer gates when conditions are slippery, because you are not able to turn as rapidly when making a lane change. All other lane control conditions apply.

Changing Lanes

• This must be done gradually over a longer period of time. Do not count on drivers in other lanes being able to brake in a controlled manner to allow you to enter.

Entering, Exiting, and Merging

• When entering a road, reduced traction will greatly increase the time required to accelerate to your cruising speed. Therefore, you will need to identify longer gaps in order to enter the traffic smoothly. This takes practice.
• When exiting a road, begin to slow down much earlier than normal, since reduced traction will not permit you to brake as rapidly. When you get to the lane change or turn, you must be going considerably slower than normal to make that turn. Therefore, braking should not only begin earlier to allow you to slow down in time, but you have to brake to a much lower speed to successfully make the turn.
• When merging, as with lane changes, you will require extra time in order to be able to make a slow and gentle merge. This means that you will need a longer gap to merge into.

Intersections

• Decreased traction will force you to accelerate slowly, turn slowly, and brake slowly. This means that you need considerably more time to negotiate an intersection.
• Practice estimating closing times and your acceleration time under slippery conditions.
• Bear in mind that other drivers are unlikely to have your skills, so that you must allow sufficient time and room for them to make errors.

IPDE (CCT)

• As with "eye use", conditions of reduced traction require you to buy more time so that you can execute manoeuvres. Carry out your identification a minimum of 12 seconds ahead (ideally up to 20 seconds) to gain the needed time. As with "night" conditions, you should begin to slow down early, in advance of clearly identifying a situation, if you suspect a possible hazard may exist.

Headlight Use

• Always have your headlights on under conditions of reduced visibility or reduced traction, better yet, have your lights on at all times. You need to be seen by other drivers as early as possible. Make sure your headlights are properly adjusted and that your high beams are off.

Sharing the Road

• Blowing snow can sometimes cover the signal lights of other vehicles so that you will not see the flashing red warning lamps of school buses, and you may not see the brake lights or running lights of snow ploughs. Whenever you see a school bus or snow plough, predict that it may stop.
• Be on the look-out for snowmobiles - see Driver's Handbook.

Assignments

If the course is given in winter, then, as either a driver or a passenger:

1. Count the braking time for a variety of different surfaces and speeds.
2. Count the acceleration time to cruising speed on a range of different surfaces.
3. Determine how far ahead you can stretch your visual scan.
4. Count how long it takes to execute a decision on a slippery surface.
5. Record the above, and bring them to the class for discussion.

Instructional Approaches

• Practise reflective discussion.
• Solicit student responses and fill in the gaps.
• Use slides and videos.

Support Requirements

Materials

• Appropriate slides and videos.

Equipment

• Slide projector and VCR.

Notes: