Quite often you can meet drivers who get firmly into a rut on the road and unsuccessfully try to get out of it without resorting to. Unfortunately, this is not always possible, especially if the motorist makes incorrect actions and his car sits deeper and deeper. The best option in such a situation, it is to turn to other drivers who could help you get out of the rut.
But people are not always nearby, so you need to learn to overcome such an obstacle on your own so as not to feel helpless in an extreme situation. Another point is safety, which not everyone is able to provide for themselves and others. We will try to figure out how to get out of a rut without causing harm to yourself, your car and other drivers.
What is a track
As practice shows, many do not even know what it is car track. How can you fight something that is unfamiliar to you? Therefore, first we recommend that you understand what this mysterious track is.
Moves on the roads every day great amount cars. They travel almost non-stop, and at any time of the day. And these are not only “passenger cars”, but also large ones trucks with luggage of several tons, Shuttle Buses, special equipment, etc. Due to this, the asphalt surface is dented and a rut is formed.
What to do in such a situation? The first step is to dampen the amplitude of such oscillations. Sharp turns of the steering wheel will not help here. It is recommended to press the wheel as close as possible to the side of the track - in the direction where you are going to go. For example, if you want to get out of the “trap” towards the left, press against the left side.
Only after this quickly and confidently turn the steering wheel in the required direction and return it to its original position. This way you can level the car by placing the wheels straight. Such a maneuver will allow you to avoid a long time with the edge and, accordingly, reduce the risk of flying out of the rut.
Also Don't continuously press on the gas. If on the first attempt the car is unable to overcome the obstacle, the wheels will slip in place. This will only worsen an already unpleasant situation. It is better to rock the car slowly while carrying out smooth movements back and forth. Gradually, the car's acceleration will increase, and you will be able to freely get out of the rut.
Use sand
The video shows how to drive in a rut:
It happens that none of the above actions leads to the desired result. In this case, you need to use other methods, but for this you should stock up on a small amount of sand in advance. Granite chips are also suitable. If necessary, one of these materials can be used, then the grip of the wheels on the road will significantly improve, which will increase the chances of getting out of the rut.
You can also take a shovel and try to increase the rut. But this method is not universal. If it’s frosty outside and the track is icy, then only a crowbar can help. Therefore, in this case, it is also advisable to use granite chips.
Modern drivers do not necessarily need to carry sand with them. Today special plates are sold. They were created specifically to overcome icy obstacles and prevent slipping. When you get into a rut, you just need to put them under the tires and move off smoothly. Typically, such plates are very effective in winter.
Riding in the snow
If you plan to drive on a newly snowy road, first consider the capabilities of your car. On virgin soil you need to move extremely carefully, since stumps, stones, etc. may be caught under the layer of snow. When driving, choose elevated places, and move at an angle along hiking trails. Put special chains on your tires to prevent them from slipping. But do this only in hard-to-reach areas.
In the video, the accident occurred due to the fact that the driver was unable to get out of the rut in the winter:
Overcoming snowdrifts
Optimal - from overclocking. If the car stalls, you need to drive back along the same trajectory and try again. Just in case, take a shovel with you so you can dig out the snowdrift.
Climbing
Climb hills in the lowest gear, but with acceleration. If you are unfamiliar with the area, it is better to first check the climbs by walking. As a rule, there is a lot of snow in such places, and you can easily get stuck in it.
Now you know how to overcome any obstacle on the road. Use the knowledge you gain not only for your own benefit, but also to help other drivers. If you see a motorist stuck in a rut, think about the fact that you could be in his place.
Please leave your comment on the article!
Winter is the most difficult period for a motorist. When there is snowfall, and there is ice and ruts on the roads, it is much more difficult to drive a car. The slightest driver error can cause a serious accident.
During this period of time, the motorist needs to be extremely attentive and careful.
The AiF-Prikamye correspondent talked to about what rules to follow on the roads in winter director and trainer-instructor of the Promotion Center driving skills Sergei Sedov. -
Victor Mikhalev, AiF-Prikamye: How can drivers adapt to changing weather conditions?
Sergey Sedov: To understand the situation on the road, you need to feel the grip of the car on the asphalt. To do this, you need to press the brake harder in front of the traffic light and see the car slows down just like, for example, yesterday or there is ice on the road.
- How to move away correctly in winter?
It all depends on the drive of the car. It’s better to move away when the snow is compacted without slipping, and then you can let it slip so that the spikes tear out and gnaw out the snow. When climbing uphill, the wheels need to be pointed straight, as the car accelerates faster, and wheels turned to the side always slow down and decrease traction forces, especially when climbing.
- How to drive a car in icy conditions?
On ice, the steering wheel becomes lighter, so you can understand that the road is slippery. In this case, there is no need to brake sharply or make sudden lunges.
You should not try to pass at the intersection; ice can play a cruel joke on you. 
- What to do if the car gets into a rut?
- A rut in winter is like death. The higher the speed of the car, the stronger car will swing from side to side and sooner or later it will be thrown off track.
When driving along a rut, you need to gradually slow down and drive through this section. There is no need to try to drive out of it by inertia; the front wheels may jump out, but the rear wheels will remain there and the car will stand sideways and may fly into the oncoming lane.
- How to drive a car on loose snow?
When the road is cleared and there is loose snow between the lanes and on the side of the road, you can drive into it after overtaking. Moving on such a road, a car can skid and be thrown out of the lane. You can’t press the brake, but you need to continue to hold the gas and “crushed” the snow with the steering wheel, making small swings.
If a car is driving on a loose roadside, it may get caught in the snow; such situations should also be avoided.
- What is the most important thing when driving a car in snowfall?
If visibility is poor, you need to reduce your speed, or better yet, stop and wait until the weather improves.
- How to get out of a skid?
A skid can happen both on a straight road and when entering, in the middle and at the end of a turn. The driver needs to react immediately.
In each situation and depending on the drive of the car, certain actions are necessary. For example, when skidding in a car with front-wheel drive, you need to add gas and turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid. If rear axle“went” to the side, then we direct the tire tread to where we want to go.
The most important thing in any skid is steering control. Without adding or removing gas, you can only use the steering wheel to level the car. It is important to sit up straight when driving and hold the steering wheel with both hands. Then, during any skid, you will automatically return the steering wheel to correct position. If the driver is sitting crooked or tilted, he may not feel the start of a skid. 
- How should you brake in winter?
On a vehicle with ABS ( Anti-lock braking system- Ed.) at quiet ride You need to brake before the system activates. In a pre-accident situation, in order to stop quickly, the driver must hit the brake pedal and brake as hard as he can, as if he wants to break the pedal.
In a car without ABS, when driving calmly, you need to brake until the wheels lock. IN emergency situation you need to brake in stages: press the brake until it locks, release the pedal and correct the direction of the steering wheel, press the brake pedal again. You can’t just hold down the brake pedal and let the car move freely.
About men and women
- Does it make a difference whether a man or a woman drives a car?
There is absolutely no difference. There are “blondes” among men, but women study better. And then, while driving a car, they do everything as they were taught. And men try to try everything possible options and until they do this, they will not understand that they were really taught correctly.
Sometimes women are “driving” better than men, because they don’t go overboard with speed and enter the turn correctly. Men love to feel the “burning drive”. They are interested in knowing what is beyond.
What a scary word for some drivers. Many people are afraid of her. And fear is often unfounded. Let's try to figure out in more detail why she scares everyone so much.
The track varies.
For example, this one, snowy
If the snow is loose, then most likely getting out of such a rut will not be a problem. But “sit on your belly” is as easy as shelling pears. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the ground clearance of your car. I would also advise paying attention to the height front bumper, which will row a large pile of snow in front of it. It's quite fragile. To get rid of it periodically and not be a bulldozer, just make a few light maneuvers to the right and left so that the snow moves to the side. Or stop and move it aside using available means. Both methods are good.
If it is frozen snow, but not so much that you can drive on it from above, then only the height of your car can save you. Otherwise, you will immediately be left without a bumper. I'm not even talking about engine protection. I think that it is simply already there, as they say, by default. Without it, driving in Russia is quite expensive.
So, let’s imagine that this is still hard snow that will not support the weight of the car, but the height of the car allows it to drive. And here new problem, oncoming car. How will we leave? All-wheel drive will help you. And if he is not there, then front-wheel drive will have a slight advantage. In any case, we try to drive into the snow with a slight turn of the steering wheel and “on the fly” and not from a standing start. However, I dare say that there is another technology that also works. The speed is the same; by quickly and sharply turning the steering wheel, we direct the car to the side, and immediately set the wheels straight. All this is done without wheel slipping, and with the gas pedal pressed. At this moment, you must be prepared for the fact that rear end car that has least resistance may move slightly forward of the vehicle. Or maybe not slightly. It depends on the wheels, the speed of the ride, the snow and ice conditions, etc. Important point, the car's wheels should always point towards where you plan to go. No matter what angle the car is at. Getting back will not be difficult.
Moving at low speed (but not slow either)
The turning angle for departure depends on the situation. Both methods work. I would start from a small corner.
Ready for the rear of the car to slide (steering ahead)
All this time we keep constant gas
Mud track. The composition of the coating is different, of course. But the principle of movement is very similar. Of course, those who are interested in trophy raids will say that this is completely different. And of course, he knows his own characteristics. Much depends on the preparedness of the car, the right choice tires, pilot experience. Etc. and so on. Keep it simple, sit on the floor. We all know how to cook Olivier, and we buy food in the same store. However, the taste is different. Therefore, anyone who wants details is welcome to ask questions. I'll be happy to tell you. In the meantime general recommendations. So, the technique of leaving and checking in is similar to driving in the snow.
Ruts on the asphalt also bring little joy. Because of it, the car constantly tries to leave the road and swerves. Therefore, you have to strain more. If it is shallow, then there is no problem. It's not difficult to move like this. Just hold the steering wheel tighter.
It seems to me that it’s scary when there is water in the rut. And many people know about the water wedge. Hydroplaning effect. When the wheel floats up and does not stick to the asphalt. A wheel that can squeeze out a large number of water from itself, has a special pattern. But it, this wheel, can also lose traction.
The recipe for moving in such a rut is to move a little slower. Even 5 km can have a big effect. The car will move completely calmly through the puddle. Therefore, speed is your main weapon. Remember that when there is no grip on the asphalt surface, the steering becomes light. The car reacts very late to your wishes. It doesn't respond well to the gas or brake pedal. So, a water rut is a great reason to increase the distance to the car ahead.
By the way, how do you determine safe distance? I will share this in the next article.
Changing lanes from lane to lane, again the same two options. You should always be prepared for the fact that the car, due to the difference in wheel grip, may begin to turn. Therefore, changing lanes occurs with steady gas, with both hands on the steering wheel, and we hold the steering wheel with a closed grip. So that it doesn't get torn out of your hands. The hydraulic booster, of course, greatly relaxes the driver and can play a bad joke on him.
Ice rut, same thing.
Let's summarize:
Track depth control
If there is an opportunity to go off-trail, we use it
Rebuilding, try and determine the method that is convenient for you. Either smoothly or more dynamically. (there are other ways, jumping, pushing, point-blank movement). It takes longer to write about it than to tell it. Ask, we will answer.
Holding the throttle during a maneuver
Wheel direction control
If you ask which car will have an advantage in the rut, the answer is obvious. With constant!!! All-wheel drive, and not connected ones, of which the majority are now. If you choose between the rear or the front, then my opinion, which I do not impose, is the front. But in in capable hands, you know.
Have we answered your questions? We will always welcome new ones.
Today we will tell you how to get out of a rut before you get completely stuck in it. We will also touch on the topic of getting out of a rut by various means, if you still get stuck in it.
Why is a rut bad? Driving along a rut is fraught with some threats: where the rut becomes deeper, there is an opportunity to “sit on the bridges.” In a swampy area in a rut, the top turf will most often be torn off and the soil will be mixed to a porridge state, so it is always better and more reliable to move along the “fresh” ground, i.e. untouched turf. If there is no fresh one or it leads to the wrong place, then all that remains is to storm the rut correctly.
Driving against the track
The main way to move on rutted terrain is the so-called movement “against the track”. This means that one wheel is to the right or left of the main track, the second is between the main tracks. This method is suitable almost everywhere where it is not possible to move at all to the side of the track.
Driving against the track
If the rut is formed in a swampy area, then you must definitely stay across or, even better, to the side of the rut on untouched turf. If you have mud tires or extreme, that is, a chance to walk across the turf without tearing it off, greatly reducing the pressure to 0.2–0.3 atmospheres. After overcoming this section, the pressure must be raised to 0.7–0.8. If it is difficult to make “road” tires and/or very low pressure, then the only remaining method is “sneaker on the floor”, that is, “on the move”, and overcome the area with full swing, especially since most often such a swampy area is quite flat and does not hide contains unpleasant “excesses” of the terrain, and is also quite soft due to the abundance of moisture, which will allow the machine units to remain invulnerable.f
If you fall into a rut, then immediately full throttle!
If you fall into a rut, then immediately - full throttle. In the case of moving “at odds”, there is one unpleasant moment - this is the possibility of still falling into a rut while moving. To prevent this from happening, you need to choose a low driving pace, but also not stop, because in case sudden braking in a place where the edge of the track has “smooth descents” into the track, the car, under its own weight and inertia, will slide into the track. If you fall into a rut while driving, there is a high chance of overshooting the rutted area by pressing hard on the gas while the car has forward momentum. That is, if you feel that the car is drifting into a rut, speed up. Then there is a chance to slip through. If you fall into a rut and stop, then the rut may not let you go without “dancing with a tambourine.” Of course, it is always worthwhile to sensibly assess the capabilities of the car and the complexity of the obstacle to be overcome. You shouldn't get into an obviously very deep rut. At the reconnaissance stage, try to understand where the car will go wrong, where it will begin to fall into a rut, and deliberately work on these places by placing branches there and covering them with earth.
The “slippers to the floor” method Exit with a shovel
If you find yourself in a rut, but the car still moves for a limited distance, and the rut deepens, then the right decision will get out of the rut and get “out of line” again. The easiest way is to back up, and where the rut is minimal, drive out of it. Often the way back is impossible or difficult, so you need something to get out of the rut laterally. The lateral lugs of the rubber tread, even extreme mud ones, may often not be enough, so the help of a shovel is necessary. Using a shovel, we make two side exits in front of the car, parallel on each of the tracks, and also make a third on the “external” track, that is, in the opposite direction where we are going to exit. The third is done half a meter from the first forward along the course for rear wheel, since we need to put both bridges against the track, and when leaving rear axle and the car turned at an angle in the rut, the wheels will be at different distances.
Using a shovel we make two lateral exits from the rut
The exits should be deep, like the rut itself, gradually decreasing. It is better to place the soil after the exit point in order to avoid the wheels sliding further along the track. Accordingly, along these exits the car can climb in and out of the ruts on its own. It is easier to carry out the exit with the “help of the audience,” that is, your crew - they must push the car into the wing to impart a lateral moment. As a rule, this is enough.
Departure with assistance With Jack
This method is mainly used by owners of prepared SUVs. If the rut still has you stuck, but you are well prepared for trophy adventures and you or your off-road colleagues have a high-jack rack and pinion jack, then you can use it to remove the car from the rut. If you have plastic bumpers or there are other reasons for the impossibility of installing a jack under them, then by using an additional device for the jack - lift-mate, you can lift each wheel of the car and place sand trucks, small pieces of wood or something similar under the wheels. You can also dig up the central part of the track a little so that the bridges are freed and the car can move. ()
This method is usually used by owners of prepared SUVs Jack to throw out of the rut
If the bumper is made of iron and allows you to place a hijack under it, then getting out of the rut can be simplified. To do this, first, the front part is raised by a jack by 1–1.5 so that the wheels come completely out of the track and rise by 10–15 cm. When lifted, the car will lose stability and it must be supported on both sides by your off-road comrades, keeping the car in a stable position. After hanging, helpers from the side where you are going to “throw” the car should go to the other side and push the car sideways. Thus, if the car is moved by 15–20 cm, it will be out of track. We carry out a similar procedure with back side cars and continue driving. When working with a hi-jack, follow safety precautions! (You can use Jack instead).
Lifting the car will move it away from the track Jack up and go
There is another technique for using a hijack when “landing” in a rut. If it is obvious that the car “sits” on only one bridge, then you can put a hijack under the corresponding bumper, lift the car and, accordingly, the stuck bridge above the track and... go! If the jack is in front, then forward, if at the back, then back. In some cases this is successful and the machine is released. Although this is the most dubious method that can lead to damage to the car!
You can also drive along the rut using a winch. But it will be very long and difficult With your winch
For vehicles equipped with a winch, it is advisable to use a winch, but please note that if you drive on a winch along a rut, this process may take longer if the rut does not change its depth and does not become deeper. So I recommend getting out of the rut. To do this, we select a strong tree on the side at an angle of 40–50 degrees and, turning the wheels in this direction, applying a little gas, but without slipping, we practically winch out of the rut. The help of a shovel, even in small sizes, will also be very useful in this case. With such a strong sideways winch, carefully monitor the winding of the cable to one side in order to rewind the winch in time. If you have a prepared SUV, big wheels, but the rut is even deeper and you need to get out of it, there are often cases when, in order to avoid damage to the car or disassembly, it is worth lifting it a little with a hijack, at the same time lightening the load on the winch. When getting out of a rut, it will be very useful to use.
Using someone else's winch
You can also get out of a rut using a winch installed on another car that ended up off-road with you. To do this, according to the scenario described above, we do the same thing, only to attach it to the tree we will need another block and a bark protection sling. If the towing vehicle is pulled towards the stuck vehicle, simply anchor it behind a tree or a second vehicle. Pay attention to the wheels. Remember, digging up is always faster than curbing the tires on a car that has leaned across the track. Also, if there is no tree, or there is nothing to swan for, then it makes sense to take it with you in advance.
With the help of a “neighbor” on a cable
If neither you nor, perhaps, your accompanying vehicles have the above devices, but there is a cable, then you will just have to pull. Use a jerk rope () for this, as it will allow your machine and the machine pulling you to experience the least amount of stress during this procedure.
Pull forward or backward?
Most often, pulling is done forward, because in the vast majority of situations it is necessary to go forward along the route. However, it is always easier to pull backwards, since it is from the rear of the track that there are the fewest obstacles, since the track is “polished” by the protruding parts of the machine from below, and there is no such “grinding” in front of the machine, so the obstacles ahead are obviously more difficult. If there is ice, the situation may turn out differently; if you fail while already on the ice, then getting forward may be easier. In general, you need to assess the situation and choose a more convenient direction for victory.
There are many ways to get out of a rut, you can even ask several people to pull the cable, and this will have its effect, but most of them require special devices. The shovel remains the simplest and most reliable of them. Good luck off-roading
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Often driving through winter streets, you can see motorists trying to pull out a car stuck in a rut. It happens that the driver’s attempts to cope with this problem are unsuccessful. Sometimes, because wrong actions driver, the car may get stuck in the rut even deeper and in this case without outside help not enough. But what can you do if there is no one nearby?
If the snow is hard and sufficiently compacted, and the rut is not very deep, but still wide enough for a stuck car to move, it can help if the motorist simply accelerates and tries to get out of the rut. But, as a rule, the car ends up in precisely those places from which it can be very difficult to get out.
Finally realizing the complexity of the situation, the driver simply reflexively begins to turn steering wheel from one side to the other, hoping that these actions might help. But with these actions they only worsen an already difficult situation because... the rut will become deeper and deeper.
Only if the ears of your car stand straight will you be able to successfully get out of the rut. It makes no sense to constantly gas. If the car does not cope with the obstacle the first time, the wheels will only slip, the rut will deepen and the car will not budge.
If you find yourself in such a situation, you need to start rocking the car. Do it slowly, try to move smoothly forward and smoothly back. With these actions, the acceleration of the car can gradually increase. And perhaps soon the driver will be able to continue on his way.
But if these procedures do not lead to the desired result, there will be good decision stock up on a bag of sand or granite chips, which are added to reduce slipping of the car wheel.
Granite chips are good to use if cold weather persisted for a long time and the track became too icy. In such a situation, even if you have a shovel, it will not help. You will need a crowbar to break the ice. But you can simply use granite chips, which will increase the grip of your tires on the road surface and your chance of getting out of the rut on your own.
You can purchase special plates at car dealerships that need to be placed under the wheels of the car to reduce slipping. Typically these plates are the best solution problems with snow obstacles. They are usually used experienced drivers, eliminating the need to constantly carry a bag of sand.
Your car may never get stuck in the snow, but with a high probability we can say that you will meet inexperienced driver, who may need help getting out of a rut. Try to help other people if you have the opportunity.
