Tips for Driving on Ice

Driving on ice and snow require more caution and a lot of attention. Icy roads can be scary.  According to a recent survey conducted by the Direct Line study and documentation center: atmospheric agents create many fears among drivers, and the most feared are ice(38%), fog (32%), and snow (10%).

Tips for driving on ice:

The risk of accidents increase on ice. By respecting safe driving practices and simply slowing down can reduce your risks when driving on ice.

Never blindly trust safety systems in your vehicle. Electronic braking, traction and stability controls help but do not eliminate the possibility of sliding on ice. Decreasing speed is the best solution, especially when cornering or near an intersection. If you have antilocking breaking system(ABS) and the car starts to lose control, press hard on the brake pedal to engage the ABS. You will feel the brakes on the vehicle engauge and unengauge in fast succession until the vehicle stops. 

Using a lower gear to slow your vehicle. In some cases it may be better to not touch the brakes as the car is slowing. Using a lower gear allows your vehicle to use the transmission and engine to brake your vehicle without locking up your tires. This ensures greater control of the car as you decelerate. 

When driving on icy roads, stopping safety distances must be tripled. Cold tires on cold surfaces are not able to perform optimally. With warm tires, a layer of water can form on top of the ice causing you to glide without traction as you try to stop. Plan ahead and start shopping early. 

Get familiar with the ice. Find a large parking area with no parked cars and practice accelerating, steering, and braking. This will help you to better understand how you and the car react to these situations. As conditions change(rain, snow, sleet), repeat this practice to hone your driving skills on all driving conditions. Also remember, all cars react differently. Be sure to practice on any vehicle you may drive. 

Always bring a loaded cell phone. Having your cell phone available, with a full charge, to call for help in case of an accident will help you in most emergencies. This is a great practice in all adverse weather conditions.

Tire traction is your first defense when stopping on ice. Always use suitable tires, with sufficient tread and with the correct pressure for your vehicle. 

What are Winter Tires?

Goodyear markers their tires with the M + S symbol (“Mud and Snow”) on the sidewall, which indicates that the tire has better winter traction than other tires. However, this mark is not associated with any standard traction level on snow. Winter tires, in many cases, have a softer rubber tread that allows for more grip on the road. These tires wear faster on standard roads free of ice and snow, but can be invaluable on icy surfaces to help you stop. 

1 Goodyear representatives explain that typically winter tires are designed specifically to maximize performance in winter. As a result, they provide greater traction and better traction in the harshest winter conditions, maintaining these properties despite the wear of the tires. 

What if tires are not enough?

Keeping a traction agent in your vehicle will help you to gain traction on almost any surface. If your tires are slipping on ice, or you need traction on a hill or in your driveway, adding Traction Magic to the surface will allow your vehicle to accelerate and stop on icy and slippery surfaces.