What you need to know before driving in the snow this winter
Some car features keep you safer than others, according to Consumer Reports.
Driving in the snow is a fact of life for car owners in New England, but many don’t acknowledge how dangerous it can be.
A study by the Federal Highway Administration showed that on average, 43 percent of all weather-related car crashes on U.S. roads are caused by conditions involving snow, sleet, ice, and slush. Winter weather also results in roughly 150,000 injuries and 2,000 deaths each year. With this in mind, Boston drivers should equip their cars as best they can to stay safe.
What does that actually mean though?
As Consumer Reportspoints out, many drivers are ill informed as to which features keep them safest on messy roads. When it comes down to it, some things matter more than others. Here’s what you need to know:
All-wheel drive is better than two-wheel drive for accelerating on slick surfaces.
AWD, used in some cars and SUVs, is way better than two-wheel drive at giving your car traction when driving on slippery surfaces or trying to get up a steep hill.
Good for “seamless acceleration,’’ AWD operates continuously, automatically varying power delivery to the front and rear wheels as needed without driver engagement.
If you’re unfamiliar with four-wheel drive, it refers to the “heavy-duty’’ driving components found in pickup trucks and truck-based SUVs. Unlike AWD, 4WD is not on all the time, and sends power to the rear wheels while the driver engages four-wheel drive with a dashboard knob or button that sends power to the front and rear axles. 4WD is good for hauling things, but doesn’t improve braking or cornering performance in the snow.
While Digital Trends reports that AWD isn’t as robust as 4WD at getting traction at low speeds, AWD is better for most drivers because it responds instantly without the driver having to mess with any switches. Cars with AWD also generally have better traction due to better weight distribution than 4WD vehicles.
But when it comes to braking, winter tires matter most.
AWD is great for getting your car to move from a dead stop, but has nothing to do with braking or steering. So when the weather turns icy or slushy, Consumer Reports found that having winter tires generally mattered more in most situations.
After test-track observations, reviewers reported: “Using snow tires provides the best grip and assurance for going, stopping, and cornering no matter what you drive: all-wheel drive, front-drive, or rear-drive.’’ Another bonus of snow tires? They typically cost a couple hundred dollars per tire, far less than the thousands drivers spend getting AWD.
Not all AWD systems are created equal.
If you do get AWD, know that some systems are better than others. When Consumer Reportstested a few SUVs against each other, they found that some did markedly better at hill climbing and acceleration in the snow.
“The [Subaru] Forester’s drive system allows a certain amount of wheel slip while climbing, which helped the SUV maintain momentum in a pinch,’’ CR said. “The [Honda] CR-V and [Toyota] RAV4 feel less responsive to a foot on the gas pedal.’’
Knowing how differently the AWD systems of three top SUVs handle inclement weather means drivers should do their homework before purchasing a car, especially if they live in New England.
Regardless of snow, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has picked out some of the safest cars of 2015, equipped with front crash prevention systems that include features like electronic stability control, antilock brakes, and even rollover sensors.
Check out IIHS Top safety picks for 2015:
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