Conor Faughnan on TV3's IrelandAM 30/11/10

Kilcullen village impassable with ice

how do i stop a skid in an automatic car. no gears to go down and only the brake to use.

any tips?

Regards

Hi Gavin – I’m using an automatic myself at the moment. See the advice tip below, which I have added to the relevant section on the blog. It’s not rocket science really in that the best advice is still to drive prudently and carefully no matter what gearbox you have. Actually the bigger problem out there is with rear-wheel drive cars, especially the heavier ones. Hope you are managing OK.

• If you have an automatic, then under normal driving conditions (motorways, etc) it’s best to select ‘Drive’ and let the gearbox do the work throughout the full gear range. In slippery, snowy conditions you can make driving much safer by selecting ‘2’, which limits the gear changes and also makes you less reliant on the brakes. Many modern autos have a ‘Winter’ mode which locks out first gear to reduce the risk of wheel spin. Check the handbook if you’re not sure.

[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Irish Jaguar Club and Brendan McCoy, conor faughnan. conor faughnan said: Tips for driving automatic cars now up on the blog: http://blog.aaireland.ie/?p=587. Rear-wheel drive cars suffering more. […]

Hi There,
Roads around sandyford ,ballyogan etc in a dreadful state, a lot of cars skidding and having difficulty going around corners etc .Getting stuck near Luas line etc
Will the Ballyogan Road be gritted?Really surprised that road clearing with Snow ploughs and gritters not getting to main arteries feeding to M50,Last night was lethal!
Also whats your advice for the morning, am a Nurse and need to get to work very early?
Thanks

The donore toll on the m1 entering DROGHEDA , trying to get up that slope was hard for motorists on wed morning THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT ASAP!!!!!!

Hi
I was wondering what the best way to handle a skid is – is it to hit the brakes quickly or just keep your foot on the brake? My car has ABS and it is a cause for dispute between my parents – one says to push the brakes and the other says to keep on the brake if the car has ABS as that does the work for the car? I am just terribly confused!

Thanks,
Kirsten

how is it that Scandinavian and other european countries manage every year in much worse conditions than this.?

I know part of the problem is that we do not have snow every year in a oredictable way…………but could we not seek advice from countries who seem to be on top of the snow problem…..it seems to create total chaos here.

Last night in dublin was uncalled for . 4hours to do a half hour journey.no gritters or snow ploughs to be seen anywhere
any thoughts?

Bernadine> The difference is: they are more organised and the gritters are on the go all night and day. Also: all cars in eg Scandinavia, Germany etc have to have winter tyres! They provide far better grip in snow and ice. I do not understand why they are not available here.

In Cork the R590 from Crookstown to Bandon is really bad black ice all the way

Any tips for driving up and down hilly areas when icy?