How to drive in icy and snowy conditions
Every driver should know how to stay safe on icy roads. Even if you live in a warm climate where it rarely snows, you never know when you might have to deal with a patch of road ice on a family vacation, on a work trip, or while bugging out. Severe weather can be scary and dangerous for travelers. Winter storms, severe weather and muddy road conditions are a factor in nearly half a million traffic accidents and more than 2,000 deaths each winter, according to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Drivers should know the safety rules for dealing with winter road emergencies.
1. Whether you need to drive out the door. Icy roads can be very dangerous, so we suggest you question whether the journey is worth the financial and emotional cost of a potential accident.
2. Drive slowly. Always adjust your speed down to account for lower traction when driving on snow or ice.
3. Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry and take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
4. Deal with the Skid. When your car starts to veer off the direction you want to go, sooner or later you'll hit a slippery spot and you'll get a nauseating feeling in your stomach. The brakes, even the big ones, are manageable, and you can have the car in full control in short bursts. First of all, don't panic and don't brake hard! Instead, do the following:
For a front-wheel skid—where the front tires lose grip and the car turns in a wider arc than you expect—ease off the gas. In a beat or two, the front tires should regain traction. Then aim where you want to go as your traction returns.
When the rear wheels slip (the rear wheels lose traction and you feel yourself starting to slip), quickly turn the steering wheel in the same direction as the rear wheels are slipping. If, for example, the rear wheels swing to the left, turn the steering wheel to the left. Slow down the accelerator and don't hit the brakes. When the rear wheels regain traction, turn to the original direction.
No matter what kind of slip you experience, make sure your wheels are pointing in the direction you want to go. If you think you can recover without hitting anything, you can use the brakes lightly.
5. Drive downhill in slick conditions. If you have anti-lock braking system (ABS), start as slow as possible at the top of the hill and keep your vehicle in normal drive gear. Press the brake pedal lightly and steadily to maintain the correct speed. This allows your braking system to maintain traction. If you don't have an anti-lock brake system, start slow and keep slowing down by slamming on the brakes lightly.
6. Never use cruise control in icy conditions. It can cause your wheels to spin at different speeds and may make you lose steering control.