Everything you need to know to drive in snow and ice

Winter is the season of the year dedicated to enjoying snow-related activities. Displacements move away from beaches and into major winter resorts. Compared to other times of the year, the conditions for traveling by car are complicated: the hours of daylight are reduced, the temperature drops and, above all, there are factors that reduce compliance on the road, such as snow and sleet. ice.

To drive in snow and ice, the driver must follow some basic rules that guarantee maximum safety while driving. The first piece of advice refers to smoothness: any movement when driving on snow or ice should be carried out progressively, without suddenness. It is advisable to drive at a moderate speed, lower than usual and, very important, without sudden acceleration or braking.

To drive in snow and ice, the driver must follow some basic rules that guarantee maximum safety in their movement

When there is an abundant level of snow on the road, it is advisable to drive on the ruts left by other vehicles, if any. If you lose control of the vehicle, the main premise is to stay calm: avoiding sudden movements, the vehicle will regain its stability when the wheels once again grip the road surface.

The presence of ice is another of the driver’s great enemies on winter trips. This element is more dangerous than snow, because it is not always easy to appreciate. Ice is usually found in places where the sun doesn’t shine, because it takes longer to disappear. Driving on ice requires a sharp reduction in speed and steering wheel movements must be very smooth.

Audi winter driving experience

Safety is our priority when traveling by car and Audi offers Audi Winter driving experience driving courses, where participants can improve their driving skills and, in turn, experience the potential of Audi’s quattro drive through of driving on safely slippery surfaces. These experiences are carried out in circuits specifically designed for the occasion, located in two of the most enthusiastic resorts in Spain, such as Sierra Nevada (Granada) and Baqueira Beret (Valle de Arán), which this year greatly expands its circuit.

The activities carried out in these courses are designed by a team of professional Audi instructors. The aim is to work on concepts such as anticipation, agility and reaction time on slippery surfaces, qualities with which participants can improve their technique and safety behind the wheel. The course program begins with a theoretical class, where knowledge is taught to acquire the necessary skills and safely face any unexpected driving event.

Audi offers ‘Audi Winter driving experience’ driving courses, where participants can improve their driving skills

When the theoretical session is over, it’s time to pick up some of the best representatives of the Audi quattro range. In the parking area of ​​the circuits, some of the most powerful, efficient and sporty models of the company with four rings, belonging to the RS range, such as Audi RS 3 Sedan, Audi RS 3 Sportback, Audi RS4 Avant, Audi RS 5 Avant, Audi RS5 Sportback and Audi RS Q3 Sportback. These exciting cars have power between 400 and 600 hp and are all equipped with Audi’s complete driving aids.

Advised by the instructors and without sacrificing the enjoyment of the activity, the drivers will perform speed, slalom, controlled sliding or braking exercises, where they will obtain the necessary sensitivity to calculate the braking distance on snow and ice, control and take advantage. of inertia to make directional changes safer or improve the ability to turn in curved areas.

The tests are divided into four main blocks:

emergency braking

Optimizing a vehicle’s braking capacity is complex, especially on slippery surfaces, where increasing distances are dangerous. Heavy braking creates dangerous situations while driving and in this exercise you learn to react quickly and measure the distance required to stop the vehicle.

Sliding Curve Tracing

The low adhesion of ice and snow makes turning speed especially important on these surfaces to prevent vehicle slippage such as understeer, which can make driving difficult. That’s why it’s important to learn to take the curves correctly, using the accelerator more efficiently.

Slalom Swing

Inertia plays a major role in driving. Controlling the weight of the car is important when tackling a curve as it favors cornering ability. The challenge of this exercise is to achieve this control of the weight and its inertia in a sequence of successive curves.

Driving on ice and snow circuit

The last dynamic exercise consists of applying everything learned in the previous ones rolling on ice and snow. Now is the time to fully test the enormous efficiency of Audi’s quattro drive and enjoy the unique feeling of driving on slippery surfaces.

The dynamic exercises of the Audi Winter driving experience allow you to discover how Audis various active safety systems work and the potential of their quattro drive, technology that allows you to continue to advance on snowy roads thanks to its exceptional ability to move forward. Audi is a pioneer in the world of all-wheel drive in passenger cars and this technology offers safety, dynamism and a unique driving feeling.

The dynamic exercises of the Audi Winter driving experience allow you to discover how Audis various active safety systems work

In the courses taught by the prestigious Audi academy, the efficiency and safety benefits derived from winter tires are also observed, covering specific characteristics that improve safety and mobility by providing more traction, braking and control on surfaces with minimal compliance.

If you want to experience this exciting experience and enjoy a day full of emotions, you will find all the necessary information at www.audidrivingexperience.es. Baqueira Beret courses start on January 14, with prices of 360 euros for customers and 420 euros for non-customers. In the case of Sierra Nevada, the scheduled dates are the same and the prices are 300 euros for customers and 340 euros for non-customers.