4 Ways To Control Your Vehicle On Icy Roads
Driving in the winter can be scary, especially when conditions call for icy roads and patches of black ice. To make sure you stay safe on the road, we’ve put together a list of defensive driving techniques that you should put to use in the event of icy winter road conditions. Reacting quickly in the event of an accident is the key to avoiding severe collisions, so be prepared before you hit the road.
- Don’t Stomp On The Brakes
When you hit a patch of ice, your first instinct may be to hit the brakes hard and hope that your car stops. This will slow down your vehicle, but it’s actually more effective if you practice threshold braking in order to get the vehicle to come to a complete stop. However, you do not necessarily have to do this if your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, so check your manual to double check what you should do if your car skids on ice.
- Do Not Swerve On Main Streets
If you go over a patch of black ice and are heading towards another vehicle, swerving out of the way may cause you an even more severe accident. If you do go over black ice and find yourself heading for another vehicle, try your best to stop the car before it hits another driver, but don’t do it at the expense of other vehicles on the road.
- Drive Slowly
It goes without saying, but when conditions are icy you need to drive slowly, especially on the highway. Most of the time, other drivers will also be driving slowly, so you may not have to think about your speed. But, if you’re driving on roads that are empty, don’t be tempted to speed up just because you can. Other vehicles aren’t the only things that could cause a collision. You could see an animal on the road and not be able to stop, or lose control of your vehicle and crash into a tree. Pay close attention to weather conditions, and leave earlier if you’re stressed about timing.
- Keep A Large Distance Between You and Other Vehicles
Double or triple the distance that you maintain between you vehicle and other vehicles on the road. In the event of a patch of ice, you’ll need quite a bit of room in order to slow down enough to ensure you don’t hit another vehicle on the road. This is especially important during high traffic hours, when hitting one car could result in that car hitting the vehicle in front of them and so on.
Driving during the winter is dangerous, so make sure that you’re adequately covered by your insurance provider in case of a collision. If you feel like your policy isn’t covering your effectively, compare your car insurance to with other leading providers on the market to ensure you’re getting the best price possible for your automobile insurance.