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We are planning a trip from Baton Rouge, LA to Chicago, IL in late December (20 to 30 December, 2012). We will take the I-55 and I-57. Anybody has an idea for this route in winters. We have minimal driving experience in snow conditions. If anybody knows a better route considering the winter conditions, Please let us know? and How should we prepare for winter driving?
we are planning to rent a car, any suggestions on type to be rented to handle the conditions?
We are planning a trip from Baton Rouge, LA to Chicago, IL in late December (20 to 30 December, 2012). We will take the I-55 and I-57. Anybody has an idea for this route in winters. We have minimal driving experience in snow conditions. If anybody knows a better route considering the winter conditions, Please let us know? and How should we prepare for winter driving?
we are planning to rent a car, any suggestions on type to be rented to handle the conditions?
Thanks
If you've rarely driven in snow I would suggest you rent a car with a driver included.
Snow is extremely unlikely that early in the year. Go ahead and plan the trip. If you run into actual falling snow and poor road conditions, check into a motel and wait until tomorrow. If there is freezing rain along the way, don't even think about driving in it. In Chicago, there is a less than 40% chance there there will even be any snow on the ground: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate...r/white_pg.gif After a snow, the roads get cleared very quickly.
I consider myself a good driver, and I lived in Canada for ten years. When I encounter snow now, I just stop and wait it out, especially on the interstates.
Ask your rental agency to make sure the car is winterized, with proper tires, anti-freeze, etc. Buy a windshield scraper/brush, about a buck at all gas stations in northern states. If there is a light frost on your windows overnight, scrape it off with a credit card.
Personally, based on a lot of experience, there are few places that I would rather not be than in Central Illinois during a snow storm. Between the snow and the wind, it can be a truly miserable place to be.
Personally, based on a lot of experience, there are few places that I would rather not be than in Central Illinois during a snow storm. Between the snow and the wind, it can be a truly miserable place to be.
Yep, pretty much anywhere in the midwest for that matter. OP, snow driving takes practice. I'd say the best thing to do is not go very fast if you run into it. There's traction control for a reason. If it's really slippery out then I'd say think about what you do in a hydroplane. Braking and stepping on the gas can make you do things you don't want to do. Do not oversteer..let your foot off the gas, let the car kind of gain control for a split second and try and steer (not oversteer). Most of all though, if you aren't sure and you think it's slick out, go slower. Don't use the gas/brake like you would in normal driving conditions - use them less if you're sliding around. Once you have the car in control and you aren't making a turn at an intersection or something, start slowly using the gas, but do not accelerate too much.
Also, if you're going into Chicago and plan on staying downtown or going downtown a lot, I'd recommend using the train system. Especially if you're staying downtown, most places do not have free parking and will charge you $30+ per day to park. The cheapest I've seen downtown is $12/day which is an absolute steal. You won't need it downtown or in many neighborhoods. In that case I'd scope out a park and ride near Midway Airport if you can (that's on the South Side of Chicago), parking there, and taking the El (train) into town. It's cheap too and often times more efficient than just driving.
Snow is extremely unlikely that early in the year. Go ahead and plan the trip. If you run into actual falling snow and poor road conditions, check into a motel and wait until tomorrow. If there is freezing rain along the way, don't even think about driving in it. In Chicago, there is a less than 40% chance there there will even be any snow on the ground: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate...r/white_pg.gifAfter a snow, the roads get cleared very quickly.
I consider myself a good driver, and I lived in Canada for ten years. When I encounter snow now, I just stop and wait it out, especially on the interstates.
Ask your rental agency to make sure the car is winterized, with proper tires, anti-freeze, etc. Buy a windshield scraper/brush, about a buck at all gas stations in northern states. If there is a light frost on your windows overnight, scrape it off with a credit card.
As of now, snow isn't in the long range forecast, but they are guaranteed to change. I really wouldn't worry about it.
Driving in snow isn't that big of a deal. Just drive slow, double your distance, and at night do not use your high beams...also have some sunglasses for the day if there is snow. You don't want snow blindness from the refelection of the sun off the snow. When making a turn never accelerate through the turn when there is snow on the ground. Complete the turn, straighten the wheel and then slowly accelerate. When starting from a stop, slowly ease on the gas.
There are a lot of winter no parking bans in the city. Be carfeul because they will not hesitate to tow your car!!!
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Thanks
