How To Drive Safely On Ice
5th December 2016
Icy conditions in winter can trouble any driver, no matter how experienced or confident you may be.
While trying to avoid the situation is the best option, black ice is often hard to detect and can cause you to skid at any moment.
To best prevent an accident and ensure you drive safely on ice, you should:
- Listen to your car. If you can’t hear any tyre noise while driving, it’s a good sign that you’re on black ice. Don’t panic, try to decrease your speed by easing off the accelerator.
- Be gentle while braking and accelerating. It’s the best option in winter to be smooth with your manoeuvres. For example, you should gradually brake towards a junction, as this will make sure your car won’t skid over the line into moving traffic.
- Keep a large stopping distance between your vehicle and the one in front. The normal stopping distance increases by ten times on ice [Source] – just remember to allow plenty of room to slow down.
- Try to drive in a higher gear and at a low speed. This gives your wheels better traction on the road, reducing the chances of wheel spin and skidding.
- Steer into the skid. Any driver has the potential to skid while driving on ice, but good drivers know how to correct it. If the back of your car is veering to the right, you need to steer right too. The same applies if your vehicle goes to the other side. Don’t brake or accelerate at all as this could make the skid worse.
When you drive on the roads this winter, alter your driving style to ensure you are prepared for ice. Most importantly – don’t panic and be safe!
- Be safe this winter and book one of Stanley Travel’s taxi services. Find out more via stanley-travel.com/taxis or call 01207 230 000 (Stanley), 01207 591 000 (Consett), 0191 306 0606 (Durham).
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