Driving on Ice Safety

Tips for driving on icy roads that could save your life

No matter how many years of experience a driver has, it can still be very difficult to know what to do when driving on ice. Driving on ice demands that the driver be prepared before embarking on their journey and also know the proper driving techniques to deal with going into a skid or driving on black ice.

What to do When Driving on Ice:

• When driving on icy roads, you should drive at a slower pace, but not too slow so that your car doesn’t effectively grip the road.
• Allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you when driving on ice.
• To avoid skidding, brake gently. Ease off the brake if your wheels start to lock up to go into a skid.
• Even in the daytime, turn on your lights to make yourself more visible to other motorists.
• Mud and dust can accumulate on your car during the winter so always keep your windshield and your lights clean when you plan on driving on ice.
• When driving on ice, use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
• Roads that get less traffic will freeze first. So be more cautious when traveling off the beaten path.
• If you drive a four-wheel or a front-wheel drive vehicle, don’t assume that your car can handle every road condition, especially when driving on ice. Driving on icy roads is hazardous no matter what type of car you drive.

Tips for Driving on Black Ice

Black ice is can be very tricky because it’s not always obvious to the naked eye. Many drivers don’t notice that they are coming up on black ice and can easily go into a skid when encountering it while driving on icy roads. Snow melt or ice that has thawed and refrozen may look deceivingly like a dry road. Black ice can come up unexpectedly because temperatures don’t have to be below freezing for it to develop. Black ice can even be present when temperatures are slightly above freezing. One of the most important tips for driving on black ice is learning how to identify black ice. Pavement with black ice will be a little darker and duller than the rest of the road surface. Drivers should reduce their speed if they think black ice may be present so they have enough time to identify and react properly. Here are some more tips for driving on black ice:

Tips for Driving on Black Ice

• Black ice is just like regular ice, it’s just harder to identify because it tends to look like the rest of the pavement on the road, although, in all actuality, it’s clear.
• Expect to find black ice more often in the morning or late evening. Afternoon sunshine tends to melt black ice.
• When driving on icy roads, if other drivers ahead of you are suddenly swerving, be cautious and slow down, there could be black ice ahead.
• Pile-ups can be common when driving on icy roads. If your car enters a pile-up, keep your wits about you and decide whether you will be safer being protected by your car or if it’s safer to exit your car and run off to the side of the road.

Driving on ice can be scary when you’re not sure what to do when driving on ice. Once of the best ways to improve how you do while driving on ice is to get plenty of practice. If you’re moving to a new location where you‘ll be driving on ice more often, get plenty of practice before putting yourself and other drivers at risk. Driving on icy roads can be very dangerous, so take some time to drive around a vacant parking lot and learn the proper techniques to use when driving on ice.