Driving on Icy Roads
Driving on icy roads is a frightening prospect, particularly to those unaccustomed to the conditions. Naturally, if you are able to stay off of the roads altogether until they have adequately thawed, this is the best safety route of all. However, there are circumstances in which staying home is simply not possible and one must brave the harsh conditions. There are also cases in which one is moving from an area rarely subjected to snow and ice to an area in which wintertime seems to overstay its welcome. For those who will be living and navigating the roads in a place that frequently see ice, it is especially important to increase knowledge of preventive measures and safety tactics.
Preparing Your Vehicle
When your home city is simply enduring uncharacteristic cold weather, you probably have not had the sort of forewarning that would lead you to specially equip your car. However, if you have learned that, where you have been accustomed to mild winters, you are most likely in for harsh conditions for this particular season, it is wise to take extra precautions in terms of your vehicle itself before the first snowflake falls. These preparatory efforts include checking the tires for tread. This is a precaution whose importance is hard to overstate. Any car that is likely to travel over iced spots on the roads needs to travel on tires with adequate tread. Look hard into your options of winter or "all season" tires. If you are moving to a new area, one dramatically colder than your past home, you may consider querying your new neighbours about where to find good winter tires.
You will also want to make absolutely certain that a few things already integrated in your vehicle work properly. While it may be helpful to have a back windshield wiper functioning throughout summer months, it can suddenly become imperative when you are dealing with icy roads. You need to be certain you are able to see in front of, on all sides of, and behind you with no trouble. This will prove important in assessing your environment and steering clear of other cars that may struggle with icy conditions.
How to Drive on Ice
When you have to be out on the icy roads, especially when there is still precipitation causing low visibility, you will need to take pains to drive slowly and cautiously while eliminating all driving distractions. It is advisable to leave more room than usual between you and the vehicle that precedes you. This way, if the car in the lead has any trouble with the inclement conditions, a moment of tapping the brake does not become a traffic accident. You will also want to leave this extra room so that you grant yourself room to recognise upcoming dangers.
Seeing ice on the road can be problematic when the sky is still pouring down. Recognising spots of black ice proves particularly difficult as it often only looks like a slick place on the road. Because it is easy to skim over places of black ice, you should always drive slowly and be ready to react at a moment's notice to your tires reaching an iced patch. Driving on icy roads requires that you maintain a level head and calm process of thought, even when you feel frightened. Many drivers make the same mistake with ice that they do when it comes to hydroplaning: they try to over-correct, pulling on the steering wheel too hard and risking total loss of control of their vehicle. It is highly advised to neither slam on brakes nor turn the wheel hard when you encounter ice.