will be going to fairbanks next week. Was wondering if the roads are maintained well enough to drive, as I%26#39;m from Florida and not a experienced winter driver. Also, the temperatures are obviously extremely cold. Is it at all bearable to be outside.
renting a car/driving conditions
Presently, it%26#39;s warm for Fairbanks - I think it was about 5 yesterday. However, last week it was -20 or so. They are predicting snow for the weekend, but the road crews are good at keeping things clear. However, it%26#39;s still winter roads and even without snow, all the intersections tend to get very slick and I mean that. Be prepared to drive slowly in the city, especially in the intersections. Depending on what you are doing in Fairbanks, you may just consider taking a taxi.
You will need warm winter clothes - a good coat, hat, mittens, etc. Good luck! :)
renting a car/driving conditions
If you must drive, be careful to keep your speed down and leave plenty of following and stopping distance. Take turns and curves very gently. Most of Fairbanks per se is pretty flat, but some surrounding areas are hilly. Hills greatly magnify winter driving problems. You can get stuck on an icy uphill. You may be unable to stop on an icy downhill. If you see traffic piling up behind you and are not comfortable increasing speed, find an opportunity to gradually and safely pull over to let the traffic pass. In general residential streets can be safer in winter than highways, because the speed at which you can break into a skid may be the same, but people are more inclined to exceed that speed on a highway. Unfortunately badget rental cars in Fairbanks generally keep the same ';all-season'; tires they use in summer. Maybe that%26#39;s to encourage you to upgrade to something with more traction for which they charge a pretty penny.
Ok, changing from Florida to winter will seem cold no matter what we say. To encourage yourself when you first arrive, take a look at the locals and see how their bodies have adapted and how much less clothing they seem comfortable with. The body adapts, and so will you!
On driving, do not use the cruise control on the car. It can mess up if part of the car is on ice and part is not... you are better driving with your own senses. Also, take the car to an empty part of a big parking lot and practice skidding and recovering from skids. That will be a good confidence builder and give you the feel for how the car reacts. Also jam on the brakes when you are going straight if the parking lot is slick. That will give you a feel for what ABS feels like - it sure surprised me the first time it kicked in!
Now you are BETTER off with cold temperatures! Better -20 than +25. The snow or ice give your tires a better grip.
Now first and last, allow the extra stopping distance. You will be happy you did.
Now I don%26#39;t know how Florida is, but there is a lot of apparent poverty in Alaska. We seem to have very few people up here who can afford a car with turn signals, so don%26#39;t be surprised at turns with no signal warning.
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Ok, changing from Florida to winter will seem cold no matter what we say. To encourage yourself when you first arrive, take a look at the locals and see how their bodies have adapted and how much less clothing they seem comfortable with. The body adapts, and so will you!
On driving, do not use the cruise control on the car. It can mess up if part of the car is on ice and part is not... you are better driving with your own senses. Also, take the car to an empty part of a big parking lot and practice skidding and recovering from skids. That will be a good confidence builder and give you the feel for how the car reacts. Also jam on the brakes when you are going straight if the parking lot is slick. That will give you a feel for what ABS feels like - it sure surprised me the first time it kicked in!
Now you are BETTER off with cold temperatures! Better -20 than +25. The snow or ice give your tires a better grip.
Now first and last, allow the extra stopping distance. You will be happy you did.
Now I don%26#39;t know how Florida is, but there is a lot of apparent poverty in Alaska. We seem to have very few people up here who can afford a car with turn signals, so don%26#39;t be surprised at turns with no signal warning.
71
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