How to Push a Car Out of a Snowdrift
The morning after heavy snow here in Brooklyn, we city dwellers always wake up to the same terrible, desperate noise: the sound of millions of New Yorkers trying to haul their cars out of parking spaces that have not been properly shovelled. This means the continued high-pitched hum of tires and the roar of engines, sometimes for hours, while I lie with a pillow over my head and pray that they run out of gas or otherwise explode. It was for these people, these determined tire spinners, that I called the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire to speak with Real New Englander And Car Guy ™ Eric Rollins, director of circuit maintenance, to learn how to knock out car out of a snowdrift. He took the time to prepare the speedway for a violent storm and gave some good advice for tire spinners and inexperienced winter drivers among us.
Get ready first.
“You have to have good tires,” Rollins said. Inspect them before the snow hits (it may be too late for you for this storm) and make sure the tread is not worn out. “Check the air pressure in the tires – they should be inflated to the correct level. Make sure you have good antifreeze, the fan belts are in good condition, and bring a blanket and jumper cables, preferably one with a battery, so you don’t need another jumping machine. Rollins recommends asking a mechanic to check everything after an oil change and remember to top up with gas. “If you get stuck and your car is running, at least you can keep warm.”
Get ready to dig
If your tires are spinning, “the first thing you need to do is grab a shovel,” Rollins said. “And probably a little cat litter.” There is no way around it: if you are stuck in the snow, “the only way to get out is to move the snow.” Rollins recommends carrying a shovel, cat litter, and tire chains (here’s a handy video tutorial on how to install tire cables, ideally worn on tires before getting stuck). If you are unable to achieve any traction, clean off even more snow and scatter cat litter, sand, or mud on the front and back of the tires. You can also use a board or one of the rugs as a wedge behind the tires.
A rock
If you are almost out of the way and are too lazy to get out and shovel, you can try to get the car out of the snow. If you have a manual transmission, Rollins says, “Put in first gear and release the clutch. When he walks forward, press the clutch, engage reverse, let him roll back and repeat the process. ” Hopefully at the end of the day, you get enough momentum to clear the snow in front of you. Need a tutorial on the vending machine? Watch this helpful video:
Use your common sense
Rollins also offers some ice driving tips for those of us who learned to drive before anti-lock brakes were introduced: basically, if you start skidding, stay calm and apply the brakes constantly. “When you put on the brake and it starts to knock, keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal and turn wherever you want.” Do not swing the brakes or jerk the wheel. Rollins said he found out about it himself just four years ago as part of his firefighting training; people who learned to drive decades ago may have been trained to brake when they start sliding.
Rollins also notes that nothing will help you at 100 mph, and offers a reminder to drive at a safe speed and keep enough distance between cars. My relatives in Vermont often tell me that four-wheel drive or snow chains don’t allow you to go fast , they just allow you to go , so be careful if you have to ride in snow, especially if you are not used to it. …
What if you park on my street tonight? Don’t forget to take your shovel with you.