How to drive in snow and ice

As much as we might want to deny it, winter is coming. With winter weather, winter road conditions follow in suit. 

Even if you are from a climate that doesn’t see a lot of icy roads, the likelihood you’ll be traveling for the holidays or a vacation at some point in your life is extremely high. 

It is important to know how to drive in snow and ice so you don’t put yourself, your loved ones, and everyone else on the road in danger. 

Preparation

Before you are even out of your driveway, there are a few basic things you have to do at home with your car before you should even consider driving on the road. 

Clear Off Snow and Ice
Clear off snow from the windshield, headlights, windows, and the roof. Snow left on the roof of your car can slide onto your windshield during your drive. 

Check Tire Pressure
In the winter, your tires should be 3-5 psi higher than the recommended tire pressure to accommodate for the change in temperature. It will give your car increased responsiveness and balance. 

Turn on Defrosters & Headlights
Once you enter your car, turn on both your front and rear defrosters. This will help with condensation build-up and any lingering ice that might not have been scraped off. 

Additionally, if you’re driving in rain, snow or both, you must turn on your headlights. It helps other cars see you and there are obvious reasons why you might want that. 

Stay Connected
Let your friends or family know where your destination is so that in case of an emergency, they will know where to look for you should such instance be required.

Driving

After you’ve prepared adequately for the journey, here are a few tips to be safe and efficient on the road.

Reduce Speed
Adjust for lower traction an icy or snowy road has by driving slowly. Whatever speed you usually go, take it down a couple of notches to account for the inherently hazardous weather conditions.

Keep a Safe Distance
The rule of thumb in normal road conditions is to be two car lengths behind the person in front of you. In winter conditions, this rule is even more important and that length should be extended the faster you are going. 

Instead of 3-4 seconds away, try being 6-10 seconds away from the car in front of you. This will give you ample time to react in case they do something unexpected. 

Avoid Sharp or Sudden Turns
Avoid making sharp turns or having any sudden movements. These actions are dangerous on normal roads, but on an icy road, the danger is tenfold. 

Not only is taking a sharp turn dangerous for the cars behind you, but it could also cause you to spin out.

Plan Acceleration and Deceleration
Gradually accelerate and decelerate while experiencing wintry road conditions. Everything you do should be planned, slow, and careful to avoid any dangerous conditions you could put yourself into. 

With your increased following distance, you will be able to plan when you are braking. Truly, you should limit your braking entirely. Doing so can help you avoid spinning out, skidding, or collisions. 

If you do lose control, stop any acceleration and avoid sharp braking as it could put you into a more dangerous position than losing control for just a little bit. 

Create Traction When Stuck

While all of our tips have been to avoid getting stuck, sometimes it is just out of your control that you get stuck in a snowbank. 

If you get stuck, the first thing you should do is remain calm and avoid panic. 

Second, figure out what is causing the problem. More often than not, your car has no traction because it is either stuck in the snow or has lost contact with the ground.

Depending on the condition, there are a handful of things you can try. First, try to dig your tires from the loose snow. 

If that doesn’t work or doesn’t seem to be the issue, use sand or salt (which we recommend you keep in your car during winter) and pour it beneath your tires to help create the traction that was lost in the snow and/or ice. If you can’t use sand or salt, the gritty texture of cat litter works as well.

Another thing you can do is to rock your car forward and backward to try and get your car back on the ground. 

Whatever you do, keep close to your car, keep visible, and keep warm. 

General Preparations

You must also prepare for winter in general, not just case to case. If you’re from a place with predictably heavy snowfall, consider investing in snow tires. Snow tires are more flexible and can adjust to the rapidly changing winter conditions. 

If snow tires aren’t an investment that makes sense for you, at least ensure your tires have a good tread on them. 

Tires are usually at the top of one’s winter preparedness checklist, but another one to add is topping off the wiper fluid of your vehicle.

Wiper fluid helps cut away the snow and grime that splashes onto your windshield. Without topping off your wiper fluid, you could be driving down the interstate completely blind.

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Winter road conditions are as unpredictable as they are dangerous. If everyone on the road knows the basic principles of driving in the ice and snow, everyone as a whole will be safer. 

If you take nothing else from this, take these 3 key guidelines: give more space to react, be predictable, and stay connected.

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