So apparently a lot of people are experiencing weather and road conditions they rarely see (same here, we don’t usually get this cold, but at least it’s not entirely unprecedented) and plenty of folks still have to drive.
My dad was very good at teaching me to drive, and took me out to drive on ice on purpose so I could see what it felt like. We’d go up hills, find places where I could deliberately put myself into a skid just to see how it felt, etc. I have no doubt it has saved my life, or at least saved me from some nasty potential accidents, in the intervening years.
So, for those who didn’t have someone to teach them, here are a few of the tips he gave me. I realize there are plenty of other tips pages out there too, but just in case, I figured I would share.
1) Drive slowly. This one seems obvious but seriously, slow the heck down. Like way the heck down. On icy roads you will rarely want to go more than 20mph, sometimes even slower than that.
2) Give yourself plenty of breaking room. Leave WAY more space between you and the cars ahead of you than you normally would, to give your car plenty of time to slow down on slippery roads.
3) Tap your brakes, don’t slam on them. Even antilock brakes (ABS), which are meant to prevent your tires from locking up and just sliding across a frictionless icy surface, benefit from this tip. Apply slow gentle pumps to your brakes, to help avoid sending your car into a skid. If you don’t have ABS or aren’t sure, then do this anyway.
4) If you do skid, don’t panic. Take your foot off the accelerator, then turn into the skid–meaning whichever direction your back tires are going, you should turn your wheel the same way. This will help you “catch” the skid and stop spinning.
5) If you have a standard transmission, get into higher gears asap. They give you more control over your vehicle. I realize that’s not many people these days, but for those who still drive stick, higher gears = more control.
6) Slow down for turns. Yes, even slower than you’re already going. Take them by inches if you have to. Turns are where you’re more likely to skid since you’re changing the momentum of your vehicle on a low-friction surface. Be especially careful in parking lots.
7) Bridges freeze first, so even if the road seems dry or ice-free, in cold, wintery conditions, bridges are often still icy. I remember driving out of a wintery storm a few years ago and feeling my back tires fishtail every time I hit an overpass. Be careful, and try not to accelerate or brake on a bridge if you don’t have to. I tend to just coast until I’m on solid ground again.
8) Let your car warm up before you start driving. Your engine will perform better if you give the various lubricants in there time to liquify again. Start your car and let it run for several minutes (5-10 if possible) before you try driving. This will also give your defrost time to melt the ice on your window so you don’t have to scrape so much.
9) If possible, don’t drive a car with an old or questionable battery. If you have a choice between a vehicle with an older battery or a newer one, go with the newer one.
10) Don’t be overconfident, even if you have a large heavy vehicle with 4-wheel drive. Ice doesn’t really care; you can still skid, slip, or lose control even in heavier vehicles. I can’t tell you how often I see trucks and 4-wheel-drive SUVs stuck in snowbanks in this kind of weather because the drivers think they are invincible.
11) Weigh down the back if you’re driving alone. If possible, put something heavy in the back of your vehicle to get some weight over the back tires. This is especially important for trucks and will help you keep control of your vehicle by giving some extra friction to your rear tires.
12) Always assume there is ice on the road in weather below freezing, even if it just looks wet. Black ice looks like water and is very dangerous.
13) Keep your defrost on high to keep your windshield clear of ice.
14) If your vehicle suddenly feels light, like it’s gliding or floating, take your foot OFF the accelerator but do not slam the brakes. Let yourself glide until you feel your tires “catch” the pavement again. Tap the brakes to test if you are out of the slide, but DO NOT slam them, as this can send you into a skid.
Anyway these are just tips my dad has given me over the years and they’ve definitely gotten me through some slippery situations. If you have to drive, be very careful!
The main thing is go SLOW, don’t try to pass people, let them pass you if they insist on it, and take your time. Leave for work or school plenty early and take your time.
Be safe out there! Oh, and any of my followers or folks who see this who drive on icy roads more often, feel free to add on. This is mostly aimed at people who may not do this often and may also not have the tires or chains that northern folk do.
germansingergirl
annaxmalina
origamiaround
gummygunk
2087
