Video Collection: Compilation of the Best Winter Crashes

A compilation of some of our favorite winter driving videos from icy roads to not-so-birght teenagers

For the first time this year, snow was in my local weather forecast, and as we all know, with the first snow comes slippery road conditions. We couldn’t help but look back at some of our favorite funny winter crash videos from seasons past to put us in the winter driving spirit.

Watch the videos below for a laugh and a reminder of why you should be extra careful out on the roads as the temps drop and snow begins to fall.

Winter Driving Training With Mercedes-Benz

Black ice, emergency braking, sudden evasive maneuvers – in critical situations it's crucial to keep a cool head

Black ice, emergency braking or sudden evasive maneuvers on slippery surfaces – in critical situations in the winter it’s crucial to keep a cool head and be fully in command of the vehicle. The winter training of Mercedes-Benz Driving Events prepares drivers specifically for the cold time of the year and practices intuitive, skilful reaction at the wheel. With the confidence that comes from being in the hands of experienced instructors, the participants explore their personal limits in the breathtaking winter scenery of Austria or Sweden with the vehicles from the Mercedes-Benz model range.

Here a survey of the various handling safety training and driving events of Mercedes-Benz Driving Events in winter 2012:

Winter Training: In this two-day course in the Fahrtechnik Zentrum in Saalfelden, Austria, the participants learn in exciting exercises on the ice track (slaloming, braking during cornering, or sudden lane changes) to gain full control of their vehicles in typical hazardous wintertime situations. The drifting exercises convey even more driving pleasure and dynamism.

Winter Training Perfection: Building on the Winter Training, in the two-day Winter Training Perfection course the participants approach the physical limits of driving. They go through the different drills at much higher speeds. Performing sudden lane changes or emergency braking during cornering again is designed to prepare the drivers for everyday hazards, such as when they encounter obstacles in the roadway or suddenly come upon the end of a tailback. Finally, driving enjoyment is the emphasis on the new 2.5 km handling course on ice: with spiked tyres the participants learn how to keep the car permanently drifting. Venue: the Fahrtechnik Zentrum in Saalfelden, Austria.

Winter Drift Event: This one-day training course takes place on the ice track of the Fahrtechnik Zentrum in Saalfelden, Austria. With spiked tyres the participants learn how to keep the car permanently drifting.

On- and Off-road Winter Training: 70% gradient, traversing ice and snow – in the quarry near Kitzbühel the participants in this two-day course learn to properly control a vehicle. The on-road exercises take place in the Fahrtechnik Zentrum in Saalfelden, Austria.

Professional Driver Winter Training: On the ice track in Saalfelden professional drivers find ideal conditions for practicing the way they handle winter hazards. Emergency braking on road surfaces with patches of differing slipperiness, evasive manoeuvres to avoid hitting suddenly appearing obstacles, and regaining control of skidding vehicles on snow and ice are some of the training exercises, in which the participants simulate as realistically as possible the stress situations occurring in their everyday work. In addition, they can expect to be coached by police psychologists and special trainers with interesting occupation-specific theoretical contents and exercises.

Winter Driving Event Perfection: During the five-day training event in Sorsele, Sweden, the participants spend more than 26 hours on the training grounds, partly even in individually occupied vehicles and with individual coaching by instructors. The various snow and ice tracks have many new challenges and surprises in store for them. The participants can look forward especially to practice driving in the darkness and the rally test. The driving data is recorded to help improve the participants’ driving skills. The lap timer, for instance, automatically determines the lap times, and instructors and participants jointly analyse the progress by means of in-board cameras.

Mercedes-Benz B-Class and M-Class Get Added Winter Traction

Two new snow chains are available from Mercedes-Benz in the accessories range for the B-Class and M-Class models

Labor intensive mounting with numb fingers due to freezing cold winter temperatures – those are our memories of snow chains in the past. Modern snow chains, however, can be easily fitted and often do not require retensioning. That also goes for the two new snow chains which Mercedes-Benz carries in the accessories range for the B-Class and M-Class models.

For the B-Class the easy2go model of chain world market leader RUD is available. Its patented mounting device with permanent tensioning effect (PTD = Permanent Tensioning Device) makes manual retensioning of the chain unnecessary. To protect easy2go during transport or storage it is contained in a high-quality textile bag which is resistant to moisture and insensitive to dirt and at the same time saves space. Other advantages are simple fitting and removal while the car is at a standstill, and integrated wheel protection.

The high-quality RUD-matic comfort bow-type snow chain for the new M-Class offers perfect protection for light-alloy wheels and wheel trim with its tough plastic ring (Disc). Since the fastener is on the front side of the wheel, the chain is quickly fitted and removed. The chrome-manganese-alloyed micrograin stainless steel is visually adapted to the light-alloy wheels and meets highest standards also for appearance. Available for tyre sizes 255/50 R19 (8J x 19) and 255/55 R18 (8J x 18).