Driving on ice can be terrifying and for good reason! Even the most skilled of drivers can have trouble navigating the slick, unpredictable conditions that are so unique to icy roads. There’s no question that driving on ice is a dangerous risk to take, and one that should be avoided if at all possible. Unfortunately, sometimes that’s easier said than done.

Icy conditions can creep up unexpectedly, but there are a few ways to determine if it’s a likelihood or not.

Understanding your local weather conditions is the first thing you want to know before mapping out your route.

Obviously, ice is formed when there are two things present in the weather; freezing temperatures and precipitation (moisture). When these two factors start commingling, you can get anything from snow and ice to sleet or freezing rain.

It’s also important to know if there’s a break in the pattern.

If the sun pops out over a snowcovered road then disappears again and the temperatures drop, that snow can melt and then re-freeze into a slick sheet of ice.

If you’re expecting conditions like this, try to arrange your outings to fit in those windows where ice is less likely. Essentially, if the temperatures drop below freezing (32°F) and there’s any precipitation on your route, avoid driving it.

It’s equally important to understand where Ice is likely to develop first.

A bridge or an overpass, for example, are more apt to form patches of ice as they do not have any insulation from the ground. Though they are sometimes treated with de-icer, it doesn’t always work or last. These are the places where black ice is most likely to develop.

In addition to avoiding bridges and overpasses, try to steer clear of roads that haven’t been treated or heavily traveled on. Use extra caution while driving over railroad tracks, through construction zones, or when going over uneven road surfaces.

If driving on ice is unavoidable, always remember to go slowly, as in 40-45 mph or even slower. Preventing a slideout is obviously preferable to having to correct one.

If you ever do find yourself starting to slide on an icy road, there are three things to remember while correcting it.

1. Whatever you do, DON’T hit your brakes.

Not only will hitting your brakes NOT stop you from sliding out, but it can actually cause it. When you brake, they can lock up and you’ll lose all control over the steering. Best to just take that foot off the gas. Also, make sure to avoid making any panicked movements with the steering wheel. Instead, think like a tortoise and steer with slow precision.

2. Steer into the slide.

If there’s no way to keep your car from sliding on an icy road, the best thing you can do is to steer into it. The key to “steering into” a slide is to turn your front tires in the same direction that the rear of the car is turning in.

So, if the back-end of your car is sliding to the right, turn your wheel to the right. As soon as you can feel your car straighten out, you should also straighten out the wheel to avoid sliding again.

Be prepared for the car to try to slide in the opposite direction when you correct your steering.

As mentioned above, if you don’t straighten out your steering the moment you’ve got the car straight, it will want to fishtail on you and slide out in the opposite direction.

3. The most important thing to remember is not to panic.

If you panic you might end up oversteering and the momentum can throw your car into a full spin.

Once in spin-mode, your car will be moving too fast to be able to steer back out of it. Just try to stay calm and focused on the road and carefully steering your car in the direction of the slide.

We hope these tips were helpful. Just remember, it doesn’t matter how skilled you are at driving, accidents can always happen. If you know it’s going to be icy where you’re traveling, try to push it off until the roads are clear again. No job or appointment is worth risking your safety over.

To learn more about how you can correct a slide, watch the video below.

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Source: Dan Robinson/YouTube