Tips for Driving in Ice and Snow

Driving in the wintertime is no walk in the park. Follow these tips to ensure a safe ride.

Gear

Have a scraper to clear off any ice and snow from your car. Don’t be lazy and leave it on top of your car, it can slide off and obstruct your view in addition to ruining visibility for the car behind you. Keep at least half a tank of gas on you in case you get snowbound and need heat. An emergency kit with a shovel, blanket, gloves, flashlight, food and water is a good idea as well, especially if you live in a remote area.

Practice

Make sure your tires are fully inflated to maximize traction. Some people like to keep a bag or two of road salt in the back of their car. It has the dual benefit of more control due to the added weight, as well as a simple solution for if you get stuck in a slippery ditch. Cruise control is a no-no for winter, as well as using your parking brake on ice.

Driving

The easiest thing you can do to protect yourself is to drive slow and cautiously. Take extra time to change lanes and be wary of ice areas. Hills and bridges often freeze over, and if you skid, try to steer the car in the direction you want to go. Pumping the brake pedal won’t help. Most modern cars have antilock brake systems so you should simply slam it down and turn the wheel.