Maruti Jimny, Tata Harrier.EV, Mahindra Bolero Go Sliding On Black ICE: We Explain Why
It is winter in North India, and we have started seeing videos of snowfall from the mountain regions. While many places are yet to receive proper snowfall, there are a few high-altitude passes that have recorded snowfall lately. Here we have one such video coming from Shinku La Pass that shows a road covered in snow and vehicles struggling to find grip, sliding from one place to another on the snow.
The video has been shared by Nikhil Saini on his X profile. In this video, we see a Tata Harrier EV sliding on a road with a layer of snow on top of it. In fact, it is not just the Tata Harrier EV, but a Mahindra Bolero Pik-Up was also struggling on the snow.
We can hear locals shouting at the drivers of these vehicles to let go of the brakes so that they stop sliding on the snow. This is a common mistake that many people who are not experienced with the terrain and conditions tend to make. Snow is one of the trickiest surfaces to drive on. Even a minor mistake can make your vehicle go out of control. It is very difficult to regain control, as any corrective measures may only make things worse in such situations.
In the video, the Harrier EV slides down a slope after struggling to find grip. Following the Harrier EV is a Mahindra Bolero Pik-Up, and the pick-up crashes into the Harrier EV. Meanwhile, we also see a Maruti Jimny SUV slowly going down the same stretch.
The simple answer to this question is snow. The Harrier EV seen here might be the QWD variant, and the Bolero might also be a 4x4 variant. However, while driving through such terrain, 4x4 alone isn’t enough.
We have seen several videos in the past where even two-wheel-drive vehicles like the Alto and Ertiga have driven smoothly over snow without much drama. The reason those vehicles could do that is because they were driven by locals who know the terrain and conditions well. They also understand the limitations of their vehicles and make the necessary adjustments to overcome them.
A 2WD vehicle can never find as much grip as a proper 4x4 vehicle on off-road or snow-covered roads. The best thing to do in such situations is to use snow chains. These snow chains cut through the thin layer of snow or black ice that causes the car to lose traction.
If you are travelling to the hills in a 4x4 or an SUV, it is a good idea to carry snow chains in the boot, as you never know when you might need them. Snow chains can be wrapped around all wheels if you are driving a 4x4, or around the front wheels if you are driving a front-wheel-drive vehicle, and then carefully drive through the snow.
While driving on snow, ensure that you do not accelerate or brake suddenly, as this may cause your vehicle to lose control. Inputs should be minimal to ensure that you stay on the road.