I’m from Minnesota and moving here I always heard how “bad of drivers” people here are in the snow. I figured it was because people just crawl along, but it’s the opposite. People go WAY too fast. Gotta respect the snow. I used to drive a 2-door coupe in Minnesota winters, never had an accident. Less about the vehicle, more about your speed.

Anonymous wrote:You don't need AWD; you need snow tires or snow chains. Traction is more important than AWD.

Other people already covered the issues about early braking, speed, and how to handle a spin.

+1. Snow tires or chain are more helpful than AWD.

You don't need AWD; you need snow tires or snow chains. Traction is more important than AWD.

Other people already covered the issues about early braking, speed, and how to handle a spin.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drive much slower and start braking MUCH earlier.

this is basically it. AWD/4WD will give you better control going, but as far as stopping is concern, it makes no difference. Slow and brake earlier.

Amen. I grew up in an area with a lot of California transplants, and when we got snow in the winter, they would zip along in their 4WD SUVs . . . right up until they crashed because 4WD doesn't help you stop any faster. You slow down, you brake early so that you can brake gradually, and you steer into the spin.

BTW, we all have done that OP. Good thing you didn't get into an accident.

Go slow and brake early unless you need to climb a hill, in which case you need momentum (but not too much!) or you won’t make it. The best plan is don’t drive in the snow unless you really need to, even if you have 4 wheel drive and know what you’re doing.

Anonymous wrote:Drive much slower and start braking MUCH earlier.

this is basically it. AWD/4WD will give you better control going, but as far as stopping is concern, it makes no difference. Slow and brake earlier.

Watch some videos about how to handle icy roads. When you start spinning out, don’t brake, even though that’s what your instincts want. Steer into the spin and you’ll straighten out. It’s scary.

Anonymous wrote:I think the problem is, at those temps and in a place like upper MN, the snow melt they put on the roads liquifies the snow during the day (sunlight + asphalt + ice melt chemicals = water) which then refreezes as soon as night falls. Also at stop signs cars heat up the packed snow which again melts and turns into ice. as someone said above, you can’t do much with ice and you did well all things considered!

Btw think it is criminal they didn’t rent you a 4WD especially coming from SoCal.

To follow up, the only “safe road” is a dry road in the upper Midwest. So if you encounter snow on the road at night, think ice.

Also if you’ll be traveling again there, look out for lakes. Snow squalls can happen any time it is cold and windy—the wind picks up the lake moisture and blows a white out blizzard across the road with no warning.

I think the problem is, at those temps and in a place like upper MN, the snow melt they put on the roads liquifies the snow during the day (sunlight + asphalt + ice melt chemicals = water) which then refreezes as soon as night falls. Also at stop signs cars heat up the packed snow which again melts and turns into ice. as someone said above, you can’t do much with ice and you did well all things considered!

Btw think it is criminal they didn’t rent you a 4WD especially coming from SoCal.

Drive much slower and start braking MUCH earlier.

Anonymous wrote:The only thing you could have done was slow down and brake much earlier. Generally when your car slides, you want your foot off the gas and accelerate. If the car starts to spin, turn the wheel in the direction of the back ties, slowly.

Yup, coming down a hill is the hardest. Slow early and gradually.

Also, 4-wheel drive wouldn't have helped you at all with that problem.

No pumping breaks with antilock breaks. Hold and pray, even if you are an atheist. Steer as smoothly as possible.

The only thing you could have done was slow down and brake much earlier. Generally when your car slides, you want your foot off the gas and accelerate. If the car starts to spin, turn the wheel in the direction of the back ties, slowly.

I'm from Southern California, and last week due to my connecting flight cancelling, I ended up renting a car to get where I needed to go in upper Minnesota. The car rental place did not have all-wheel drive. It was some kind of Dodge SUV. It was night time and well below freezing temps.

After I got off the highway and was on a surface street, the area was a little hilly. There was snow, but the road had been plowed. I was driving slowly on a road, and went down a hill to an intersection with a major divided road where cars would be going faster. I had a stop sign and the divided road did not.

I think there was a some snow at the stop sign area. Anyways, I'm slowly coming down the hill, and I braked and the car just sort of slid past the stop sign and into the intersecting road.

Nobody was coming so I lucked out. But yikes, what was I supposed to do to prevent that? Pump the brakes?