Ice Related Car Accident

[+LogicalApex MVC]

I am very happy with the safety that my car was able to provide for myself and my two passengers when traveling earlier this week. I didn't get to grab a picture of the car after the crash, but if I am able to secure some pictures I'll share them with you all...

On Monday morning I was traveling on the PA Turnpike heading northbound ultimately aiming to reach Pottsville, PA. Traveling from Philadelphia the conditions were poor, but the trip was progressing very smoothly. The conditions were freezing rain and icy roads so I was driving as safely as I could. No speeding, obviously, and minimizing lane changes to reduce the risk of ice related slippage. On a few occasions past King of Prussia I did encounter wheel slippage on the ice, but no loss of control happened to the car. About 2 hours into the trip I learned a very powerful lesson on how inclement weather can be so dangerous.

 

I was taking exit 74 off the Turnpike and as I was dropping speed to deal with the risk of ice on a turn the car slipped on ice. The back of the car pulled immediately and hard to the left and my passenger called out that the car was hard slipping (of course I felt this as well). I immediately attempted to counter the slip by steering hard to the left to keep the car going in the direction I intended to go. I also depressed the brakes fully and hoped that ABS could help me regain enough traction to at least stop. Unfortunately this wasn't the case. The car spun around hard and the driver's side slammed full force into the rock wall adjacent to the highway off ramp. Somehow the car was also partially airborne as upon impact I noticed the car on a heavy tilt with the back end raised fairly well. The driver's side curtain airbag deployed, but no other airbags in the car deployed.

 

After the impact I was immediately listening to a voice call out "Mr. Thomas you have been in an accident. Are you alright?" it was the Mercedes mBrace (On Star competitor) as the car had initiated the call without any additional work on my part. I informed the agent of the condition of myself and my passengers and they worked with the authorities to get us help. This was so helpful that I don't think I'll be in a car without this sort of service active again.

 

I was able to get out of the car and inspect the damage as well as walk with the only pain being a sore shoulder and neck. The passenger on the driver's side had no pains or injuries and the passenger in the passenger side rear seat had a stiff neck and headache from impact with the side door window. The window didn't break and everyone was feeling very well healed by the next day.

 

The car was severely damaged. Especially at the point of impact. It wasn't drivable and the driver's side was very badly damaged with the rear wheel barely still attached.

 

There I was staring at my barely 90 days old 2013 Mercedes C300. My first car and my first accident all in such a short period of time...

 

Thankfully my insurance company was very quick and fair helping me through the mess. They totaled the car and paid me more than I paid for it enabling me to get a car a model year newer with under 10K miles on it. That was the best part of a very scary situation. I went with the same car essentially, 2014 C300, as I am still very happy with the safety that the car afforded me and my passengers.

 

If you've wondered why I was absent from the forums this week this is what caused it...

 

Sadly the news today for Philadelphia was full of more ice related car accidents including three deaths. Be safe when traveling in inclement weather and, where possible, stay off the roads.

[count0nz]

Glad you're Safe sounds Realy Awsome. 

Best of luck with you're new C300 take some pics of it for us

[Dot Matrix]

My Mom lives in Harrisburg, and had a car slide right into her lane in front of her. She was able to stop before striking the vehicle, thank God. Freezing rain is the absolute worst. Glad to hear you're ok.

[Rohdekill]

Curious...what was so imperative that you make this trip in such poor weather conditions? 

[123456789A]

Did you try pressing Y to rewind?

[Nagisan]

Glad you and your passengers are okay. Hopefully you never need this advice, but if you are sliding on ice do NOT slam on your brakes. Step off the accelerator to help slow down but slamming the brakes (even with ABS) will cause more problems than not once you are on ice.

[Barney T. Administrators]

So glad that you are ok....... cars can be replaced, people can not.

[tsupersonic]

Glad everyone was ok. Ice is definitely very scary. Did you by chance have winter tires on the car? Is your C300 AWD (4Matic) or RWD? 

[+LogicalApex MVC]

I was able to make it to the body shop to collect my personal items from the car and got a few pictures of the damage.

 

http://imgur.com/a/7AVex

 

To answer some of the questions:

 

The trip wasn't beyond essential, but I expected that the roads would be sufficiently salted and deiced. This proved to be true in the greater Philadelphia area, but wasn't the case once we got deep out there to around Allentown. A lesson I learned the hard way it seems. It is also possible that I over estimated the power of AWD.

 

I'll take the simple advice of staying off the roads during inclement weather where possible. Especially if I'm going to be traveling outside of a major city.

 

Yeah I understood that I shouldn't depress the brake while sliding on ice, but I wasn't sure I had a choice in this case. The problem with the way this happened was that I was already depressing the brake to reduce speed so the full depression ended up happening as a sort of Hail Mary.

 

The C300 was AWD using OEM Michelin Pilot MXM4 tires. The new car is the same except the tires are Continental ContiProContact OEM tires.

 

I am very happy that everyone was OK after all of this. We have insurance to replace and/or fix cars, but we can't replace people and even fixing us isn't anywhere near the same. Be safe on the roads and thanks for the gratitude shown toward myself and my friends who were passengers in this ordeal.

[+Warwagon MVC]

I was able to make it to the body shop to collect my personal items from the car and got a few pictures of the damage.

 

http://imgur.com/a/7AVex

 

 

[Cnónna]

don't forget to get a smart pen scartch repair.

[tsupersonic]

I was able to make it to the body shop to collect my personal items from the car and got a few pictures of the damage.

 

http://imgur.com/a/7AVex

 

To answer some of the questions:

 

The trip wasn't beyond essential, but I expected that the roads would be sufficiently salted and deiced. This proved to be true in the greater Philadelphia area, but wasn't the case once we got deep out there to around Allentown. A lesson I learned the hard way it seems. It is also possible that I over estimated the power of AWD.

 

I'll take the simple advice of staying off the roads during inclement weather where possible. Especially if I'm going to be traveling outside of a major city.

 

Yeah I understood that I shouldn't depress the brake while sliding on ice, but I wasn't sure I had a choice in this case. The problem with the way this happened was that I was already depressing the brake to reduce speed so the full depression ended up happening as a sort of Hail Mary.

 

The C300 was AWD using OEM Michelin Pilot MXM4 tires. The new car is the same except the tires are Continental ContiProContact OEM tires.

 

I am very happy that everyone was OK after all of this. We have insurance to replace and/or fix cars, but we can't replace people and even fixing us isn't anywhere near the same. Be safe on the roads and thanks for the gratitude shown toward myself and my friends who were passengers in this ordeal.

Like you said best thing you can do is stay home in really poor conditions. You're not the only one who overestimates AWD - there are plenty of people who drive trucks/SUV's/AWD sedans who think they are indestructible on the roads. AWD will get you going when you are stopped, but your tires dictate stopping distances. Before getting an AWD car, I would get winter tires. 

 

I would HIGHLY recommend getting winter tires. I live in upstate NY where we get lots of snow (typically lake effect), and I have a 3 series w/ xDrive (AWD), but I suffered with the Continental ContiProContact All-Season tires (came with the car) last winter. I could get going from a standstill, but they were very poor in braking and I skidded a lot when turning.  This season, I decided to purchase a set of winter tires (Bridgestone Blizzaks WS-80), and they have been just flat out amazing. It gives me a level of confidence in driving that I never had with the AS tires. 

 

I also recall you saying this is your first car, so I'm assuming you don't have a lot of driving experience in winter? All I can say is practice, practice, practice. Also, if you do have to go out, just take your time. 

[+LogicalApex MVC]

Like you said best thing you can do is stay home in really poor conditions. You're not the only one who overestimates AWD - there are plenty of people who drive trucks/SUV's/AWD sedans who think they are indestructible on the roads. AWD will get you going when you are stopped, but your tires dictate stopping distances. Before getting an AWD car, I would get winter tires. 

 

I would HIGHLY recommend getting winter tires. I live in upstate NY where we get lots of snow (typically lake effect), and I have a 3 series w/ xDrive (AWD), but I suffered with the Continental ContiProContact All-Season tires (came with the car) last winter. I could get going from a standstill, but they were very poor in braking and I skidded a lot when turning.  This season, I decided to purchase a set of winter tires (Bridgestone Blizzaks WS-80), and they have been just flat out amazing. It gives me a level of confidence in driving that I never had with the AS tires. 

 

I also recall you saying this is your first car, so I'm assuming you don't have a lot of driving experience in winter? All I can say is practice, practice, practice. Also, if you do have to go out, just take your time. 

I am considering Winter tires, but I stuck with the OEM All-Seasons due to the lack of a garage or driveway where I could rotate between All-Season and Winter tires. I have been considering the Continental ExtremeContact DWS as a well regarded middle ground. How do you handle the seasonal shift to Winter tires?

 

Yeah this was my first car so really just getting my bearings when it comes to winter driving. Been through a lot of it as a passenger, but that doesn't count at all.

[astropheed Veteran]

Your first car was a 2013 Merc C300?

 

You missed the fun of having a piece of crap that you're never entirely sure will make it around the next corner. My first car was kind of terrible (92 Mazda MX3 V6 with hardly any paint) and I miss it so much. I painted it with a paint roller and treated it like crap. I lived in the Country too so I'd off-road with it and just treat it badly. Gotta love a Mazda, it handled it all like a champ.

[LaP]

I would HIGHLY recommend getting winter tires. I live in upstate NY where we get lots of snow (typically lake effect), and I have a 3 series w/ xDrive (AWD), but I suffered with the Continental ContiProContact All-Season tires (came with the car) last winter.

 

 

All-season tires are useless. They are actualy illegal here. By law you need to have winter tires from december 15 to march 15.

 

[edit] nah i think about it and all-season tires are not useless they make very funny youtube video where we canadians can laugh at americans XD

[tsupersonic]

I am considering Winter tires, but I stuck with the OEM All-Seasons due to the lack of a garage or driveway where I could rotate between All-Season and Winter tires. I have been considering the Continental ExtremeContact DWS as a well regarded middle ground. How do you handle the seasonal shift to Winter tires?

 

Yeah this was my first car so really just getting my bearings when it comes to winter driving. Been through a lot of it as a passenger, but that doesn't count at all.

Just googled the ExtremeContact DWS, and TireRack says it's "Ultra High Performance All-Season."  I would recommend against it, and get proper winter tires. If I recall correctly, I had the ExtremeContact DWS on my MB CLS (RWD), and they did not perform well at all. 

 

I live in an apartment, but luckily I have a garage, so I keep my A/S Continentals in the garage, and I plan on swapping between the Blizzaks (Mid. November - Mid. April), and using the A/S Conti's for the rest of the year. Unfortunately I don't have a dedicated set of wheels for winters, so I have to swap the tires back and forth on the same wheels. I will be getting dedicated wheels come next Winter season. 

All-season tires are useless. They are actualy illegal here. By law you need to have winter tires from december 15 to march 15.

You are correct - in certain parts of the world, winter tires are required. I don't think there is a US federal/state law like that.

[+LogicalApex MVC]

Your first car was a 2013 Merc C300?

 

You missed the fun of having a piece of crap that you're never entirely sure will make it around the next corner. My first car was kind of terrible (92 Mazda MX3 V6 with hardly any paint) and I miss it so much. I painted it with a paint roller and treated it like crap. I lived in the Country too so I'd off-road with it and just treat it badly. Gotta love a Mazda, it handled it all like a champ.

Yeah it was. I started late...

 

My younger brother just recently picked up a 1995 Nissan that he is working hard to drive into the ground. He got it for $500 and is using it to push hard and learn a little bit about fixing cars at the same time.

 

I don't have that luxury as I'm now time strapped and I need the reliability. Me and my wife make trips to Canada on a quarterly basis and she wouldn't be too happy with us stranded on the highway due to a breakdown.

[astropheed Veteran]

Yeah it was. I started late...

 

My younger brother just recently picked up a 1995 Nissan that he is working hard to drive into the ground. He got it for $500 and is using it to push hard and learn a little bit about fixing cars at the same time.

 

I don't have that luxury as I'm now time strapped and I need the reliability. Me and my wife make trips to Canada on a quarterly basis and she wouldn't be too happy with us stranded on the highway due to a breakdown.

 

Understandable. Just a shame you missed out. Ah well you always got your midlife crisis to look forward to.

[123456789A]

Your first car was a 2013 Merc C300?

 

You missed the fun of having a piece of crap that you're never entirely sure will make it around the next corner. My first car was kind of terrible (92 Mazda MX3 V6 with hardly any paint) and I miss it so much. I painted it with a paint roller and treated it like crap. I lived in the Country too so I'd off-road with it and just treat it badly. Gotta love a Mazda, it handled it all like a champ.

 

That sounds kind of like my first car, but I'm still driving it almost 20 years later. I kind of like having no car payment and not having to worry about someone dinging it in the parking garage. I also never need to wash it, and nobody in their right mind would want to steal it.

[sc302 Veteran]

glad to hear you are safe.

 

when it comes to ice rubber is rubber.  It doesn't matter 4wd, awd, 2wd, front, rear..once you loose traction it is all over until the ride stops.  the only possible benefit from awd/4wd is if a tire is on dry land then you have a chance of staying straight, however if all are on wet/ice you are done for.  I have had plenty of experience in wet/ice/snow/slush (been driving 100+ miles a day since 2002).  My vehicles include explorers, expeditions, full sized vans, minivans, jeep cherokees, altimas, mustangs, probe, focuses (by far the worst out of all, even the rear drive empty full sized vans), and a camry. 

 

I know this is a little far for you, but if you are willing to take the drive or can get a few people together and an area for them to be able to train on, this is a good course and will teach you about car dynamics.  They have a skid car that can simulate any type of condition, and teach you how to recover from a lot.  If nothing else it will give you new knowledge of how to handle, read, and control your car in many different conditions.  They really should have these types of instructional courses every 30-50 miles.  No matter your experience, you can always afford to learn something that you didn't know before or have forgotten. 

https://www.blacktopbootcamp.com/

 

Blacktop Bootcamp students will learn the following:

• Basic vehicle dynamics
• Basic physics as it pertains to cars
• Basic vehicle maintenance
• Vision
• Balance
• Traction management
• Braking techniques
• Accident avoidance maneuvers
• Skid prevention, correction and recovery
• Spin prevention, correction and recovery
• Driving during inclement weather

[Astra.Xtreme]

I'll also agree that snow tires are highly recommended for areas that get any wintery weather. I bought some this winter and it's crazy how much of a difference they make. Between those tires, the traction control, and ABS, it takes a bit of wreckless effort to get my car to slide.

 

I bought the General Altimax Arctic tires, which were rated better than the Blizzaks and slightly cheaper.  Excellent tires.

 

Also keep in mind that you want to size them thinner than stock.  Thinner tires cut though snow better and there is less surface area to slip with.  I'm sure there are plenty of forums out there with people discussing what size they've had success with.

 

For less than $1k (unless you buy big rims), it's a no-brainer piece of mind.

[+LogicalApex MVC]

 

glad to hear you are safe.

 

when it comes to ice rubber is rubber.  It doesn't matter 4wd, awd, 2wd, front, rear..once you loose traction it is all over until the ride stops.  the only possible benefit from awd/4wd is if a tire is on dry land then you have a chance of staying straight, however if all are on wet/ice you are done for.  I have had plenty of experience in wet/ice/snow/slush (been driving 100+ miles a day since 2002).  My vehicles include explorers, expeditions, full sized vans, minivans, jeep cherokees, altimas, mustangs, probe, focuses (by far the worst out of all, even the rear drive empty full sized vans), and a camry. 

 

I know this is a little far for you, but if you are willing to take the drive or can get a few people together and an area for them to be able to train on, this is a good course and will teach you about car dynamics.  They have a skid car that can simulate any type of condition, and teach you how to recover from a lot.  If nothing else it will give you new knowledge of how to handle, read, and control your car in many different conditions.  They really should have these types of instructional courses every 30-50 miles.  No matter your experience, you can always afford to learn something that you didn't know before or have forgotten. 

https://www.blacktopbootcamp.com/

 

Blacktop Bootcamp students will learn the following:

• Basic vehicle dynamics
• Basic physics as it pertains to cars
• Basic vehicle maintenance
• Vision
• Balance
• Traction management
• Braking techniques
• Accident avoidance maneuvers
• Skid prevention, correction and recovery
• Spin prevention, correction and recovery
• Driving during inclement weather

 

Thanks for sharing that. I'll definitely attend it. I was obsessed with safe driving prior to my accident and I'm only going to continue that trend.

 

I've been planning on doing a stint in the Winter Driving Academy and hopefully I can nail that down in the next year or two. I would have already done it if it weren't for the need to fly out to Colorado.

[Anibal P]

Yep, PA does a horrible job at keeping the roads clear, get them winter tires, something I noticed after moving to CT, the roads are better treated in the winter 

[HawkMan]

Like you said best thing you can do is stay home in really poor conditions. You're not the only one who overestimates AWD - there are plenty of people who drive trucks/SUV's/AWD sedans who think they are indestructible on the roads. AWD will get you going when you are stopped, but your tires dictate stopping distances. Before getting an AWD car, I would get winter tires. 

 

I would HIGHLY recommend getting winter tires. I live in upstate NY where we get lots of snow (typically lake effect), and I have a 3 series w/ xDrive (AWD), but I suffered with the Continental ContiProContact All-Season tires (came with the car) last winter. I could get going from a standstill, but they were very poor in braking and I skidded a lot when turning.  This season, I decided to purchase a set of winter tires (Bridgestone Blizzaks WS-80), and they have been just flat out amazing. It gives me a level of confidence in driving that I never had with the AS tires. 

 

I also recall you saying this is your first car, so I'm assuming you don't have a lot of driving experience in winter? All I can say is practice, practice, practice. Also, if you do have to go out, just take your time. 

 

AWD is good for traction up steep hills or in deep snow. But its fairly useless to prevent sliding on ice or compressed snow or even aqua planing. Even more so once AWD slips, it's a lot worse than a 2wd car fwd or rwd, the only way to regain control of an AWD is to press the clutch until you have grip, brakes just makes it worse, even ABS which on any other car you can actually press as hard as you can and get more control (we actually practice this dung the ice driving class of our drivers license training over here).

[astrokat]

In the original posters defense, this was a storm that caught everyone off guard.  There were 400+ accidents in a 4hr period in NJ alone, to the point where some municipalities had automatic recordings calling residents houses telling them to stay home.  It was rain that turned into black ice and F.U.B.A.R.ed many peoples whips.  Just real sucky luck - glad everything worked out.

 

Just be lucky you weren't this dude!