The unfortunate reality is ice and snow cannot always be cleared promptly, and people cannot always wait until it melts to drive. You’re simply going to have to spend some of your time driving in less-than-ideal conditions.
When you do this, it’s important to change the way that you drive. Below are a few tips that may help:
Do everything gradually
When you’re braking or accelerating, the key is to do it slowly and gradually, rather than hitting either pedal as hard as you can. Done slowly, you give your tires a chance to grip on the snow, and your car moves in a controlled fashion. Done quickly, the tires either spin or slide and you lose complete control in a split second.
Watch your following distances
Perhaps the best thing to do is to simply back off a bit from the next car. Bigger following distances are necessary because you need time to brake slowly. You also need time for the car to slide a little bit if you do have to brake in a hurry. The more space you can leave, the better, although you may run into dangerous tailgaters who don’t appreciate the way you’re driving.
Avoid panic if things go wrong
The worst thing you can do if your car does begin sliding is to panic and steer violently in either direction. You just want to remove your foot from the gas and try to gently control your way through the slide. Panicking only increases the odds of crashing, although it can be hard to stay calm if this happens.
And what if that frustrated tailgater runs into you? Or what if someone else slides through a red light? You can’t always avoid these risks, but you can understand your legal options to seek financial compensation for your losses.