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6 Safety Tips for Driving in Snow & Ice

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​1. Know (and Don’t Push) Your Comfort Levels

The first piece of advice you should take to heart when driving in winter weather is to know what you are and aren’t comfortable with. This is especially true if you’re new to driving. It is always better to exercise caution. If you know that you have somewhere that you need to be, but you don’t yet feel comfortable driving in the snow and ice, don’t be afraid to find another way. 

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2. Always Remove Snow From Your Car

Many people make the mistake of leaving ice and snow on their cars before they set out. They know that they need to clear off the windshield and windows, but they quit once they have decent visibility. This presents several problems. First, if you only remove the snow without thinning out the ice, you’re not going to be able to see as well as you need to. It’s a good idea to let your car warm up before you have to leave. When it comes to snow, the snow on the top of your vehicle is just as dangerous as the snow on your windshield and windows. It can be dangerous for you and the people around you. If you come to a sudden stop, some of that snow can slip down onto your windshield, blocking your visibility. What’s more likely, though, is that it will slip back onto the car behind you. Snow could block their visibility, and any chunks of ice can damage their car.

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3. Brake Slowly

You will, at some point, experience some skidding when you’re driving on ice or packed snow. This happens to everyone. The first thing that you’re going to do is panic. Resist the urge to slam on your brakes, even if you’re scared. This won’t help you, and it can cause you to spin out or damage your car. Instead, gently pump the breaks so your car can come to a slow and deliberate stop. 

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4. Drive More Slowly

Speaking of going slow, you also need to consider your speed when driving on ice and snow for the first time. You’re used to driving the speed limit (we hope). You go faster on highways, and you go slower in neighborhoods. This is still true when it’s snowing, but you need to bring your speed down. Only go as slow as road safety allows. People will understand if you’re going slow because you’re new to snowy weather, but make sure that you aren’t in anyone’s way. 

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5. Watch for Black Ice

Black ice is a thin layer of almost transparent ice that blends into the road. While thin, it’s still slippery and dangerous. This ice forms when the temperature during the day is warm enough to melt ice (or it rains), but the road stays wet. This means that when the weather dips below freezing again, that water freezes and creates a slippery layer over the road. If you hit black ice, do everything that you can to maintain control of the vehicle. Don’t brake unless you have to. Instead, let your car come to a stop by taking your foot off of the accelerator. 

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6. Give a Lot of Space

You should always give the cars ahead of you space in all weather conditions, but it allows extra room when it comes to snow. Remember that other people are like you. They’re not familiar with the weather, and they may also have problems when it comes to speeding up and slowing down. You want to give yourself (and them) enough room for error. You also want to make sure that you give yourself room to brake. If you’re too close to the car ahead of you, it won’t be possible for you to brake in a reasonable amount of time. Assume that you might skid even if you know you’re a competent driver. It’s better to be cautious.