Wonder Lake winters put some in the ditch. Too often, those in the ditch have 4-wheel drive.

They’re built for driving in this kind of weather common in Wonder Lake during the winter, right? Why then do you see so many 4-wheel-drive vehicles in the ditch? Could there be something wrong with the way they’re designed? Or could the problem be something else.

The answer is generally the latter. A car, truck or SUV with 4-wheel drive has a potential advantage when driving on winter roads. The advantage is that all four of the wheels are, or can be set to push the vehicle down the road. The problem is that drive wells have little to do with wheels and tires used to stop a vehicle. And here is where the problem lies – here and behind the wheel.

The way a 4-wheel drive vehicle will help a driver get going in snowy conditions can be deceiving. It may give the driver a sense that their vehicle can do anything on a snowy road as though the road is completely dry. That is an erroneous perception.

When they want to stop, 4-wheel drive will do little to help them. The result is that some folks operating a 4-wheel drive vehicle will ‘over drive’ their vehicle.

‘Over drive,’ as opposed to overdrive, which is a gearing option in some transmissions, refers to driving beyond the driver’s capacity to control their car, truck or SUV. In other words, they may go faster than they should. At such speeds, if they suddenly have to stop, they may find that they can’t stop as quickly as expected and may, in the process of trying to stop, lose control of the vehicle. 

Driving too fast can cause someone to lose control even on a dry road. But on a slippery Wonder Lake winter road, it’s all the easier to lose control. And 4-wheel drive, may not help. The point is to maintain control of your vehicle in all conditions and not ‘over drive’ your ability to control it in any situation. A good set of tires will actually help as much or more than 4-wheel drive.

Of course, this winter has been relatively mild. But it’s not over. As the last couple of years have shown, March and even April can blow in, not so much like a lion, but like a polar bear. Icy and snow-covered roads, or a combination of the two, are still possible. 4-wheel drive can help but remember to be careful when driving.