HOME > Northern Road Guide, for your safety and comfort > Winter Drive Information

Winter Drive Information

  1. Leave enough room to the car in front of you.
  2. Especially when decsending, downshift to first or second gear, and use the braking power of the engine.
  3. Finish decelerating on the straightaway, before entering the curve.
  4. Don't make and sudden changes in steering, accelaration, or decelaration.
  5. Under conditions of poor visibility, headlights should be on, even in daytime. Use your low beams.

Traveling on slopes

When ascending, you should be in a low enough gear, acceralation should be constant, and room should be left to the car ahead. When starting on slope, step on the acceralator more softly than you would on a flat road, and release the parking brake slowly while keeping the clutch halfway in. When the car starts to move, engage the clutch gently and press the acceralator gradually.

When descending, deceralate beforehand, then downshif, and use engine-brakes. At this time, the center of gravity will shift forward, and the rear of the car will feel light. Rapid braking or downshifting will cause the car to fishtail.

Driving at curves

Slipping at a left curve will cause you to fishtail to the right. This will cause the car to enter the oncoming lane. Slipping at a right curve will cause you to fishtail to the left. This will cause the car to run off road.
Deceralate sufficiently and keep at a moderate speed
before turning. When turning, be aware that a car apts to swing
into the oncoming lane.

Braking

Sudden braking causes the tires to lock, making the tires skid and the car difficult to stop. Brake gently, so as to keep the tires from skidding. (soft braking)

Technique to avoid danger (counter-steering)


If you start fishtailing to the right・・・ Turn the steering wheel to the right, ease off the gas and let out the clutch.
If you start skidding or fishtailing, don't slam on the brakes. Instead, ease the accelerator and counter-steer by turning the steering wheel quickly in the direction the car is skidding. For drivers who haven't mastered the techinique, this could make matters worse, so they are advised to stick to the rule: ease off on the gas but do not brake.

 

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