The first rule: decide whether to go
The safest winter drive is the one you do not need to make. If authorities advise against travel, or conditions are bad and the trip is not essential, waiting a few hours often makes a big difference, since roads get treated and cleared. If you must go, tell someone your route and expected arrival, and make sure your phone is charged.
Prepare the car
A prepared car makes everything easier. Many of these steps are covered in more detail in the seasonal checklist, but the essentials are:
- Tires. Tires are the only contact between the car and the road. Check tire pressure and tread depth, and consider winter tires in places with regular snow or ice. The differences between summer, winter and all-season tires matter most in the cold, and the right choice depends on your climate. Where chains or traction devices are legal or required, make sure they fit and practice putting them on before you need them.
- Visibility. Replace worn wipers, fill the washer reservoir with winter-rated fluid, and make sure all lights work.
- Battery and fluids. Cold is hard on a weak battery, and the antifreeze mix should be correct for your area.
- Fuel. Keep the tank at least half full.
- Gear. An emergency kit with a blanket, warm clothing, a flashlight, a scraper, a small shovel, a phone charger and some snacks and water is sensible. In remote areas, extra items may be worthwhile.
Clear the whole car
Remove snow and ice from all windows, mirrors, lights, sensors and cameras, and from the roof, hood and trunk. Snow left on the roof can slide forward over the windshield when you brake, or fly off and hit other vehicles. Clearing only a small viewing hole is both dangerous and, in some places, illegal. The tips on defrosting windows cover safe ways to do this.
Driving on snow and ice
Be gentle with everything
Traction is limited on snow and much more so on ice, so every input should be smooth: steering, braking and accelerating. Sudden movements are what cause a loss of grip. Smooth driving is a good habit all year, and it becomes essential in winter.
Drive slower and leave more space
Speed limits are for good conditions. On snow and ice, slow down well below them. Stopping distances on ice can be many times longer than on dry pavement, so your following distance should be much larger than normal. A common suggestion is a gap several times larger than usual, though the right amount depends on conditions.
Accelerate gently
Press the accelerator gradually to avoid wheelspin. In a manual car, starting in a higher gear (such as second) can reduce wheelspin. In an automatic, a gentle foot is usually enough, and some cars have a snow or winter mode that softens the throttle response. Check your manual.
Brake early and lightly
Begin braking much earlier than normal, and apply the brakes gently. If your car has anti-lock brakes (ABS), the system helps prevent wheel lock-up. In an emergency, press firmly and steadily and keep steering; you may feel the pedal pulse, and that is normal. Do not pump the pedal. In a car without ABS, brake gently to avoid locking the wheels.
Slow before turns
Do your braking in a straight line before a curve, not in it. Then steer smoothly through the turn with a steady, light throttle. Braking or accelerating hard in a turn is a common cause of skids.
Hills
Build a little momentum before an uphill slope on a snowy road, and try to keep a steady pace instead of stopping partway. On the way down, slow down before the slope begins and use a lower gear to let the engine help with braking. Avoid sudden braking on downhills. Keep far back from the vehicle ahead on both climbs and descents.
Watch for black ice
Black ice is a thin, nearly transparent layer of ice on the road. It tends to form on bridges, overpasses, shaded areas and early in the morning or after sunset, since these cool faster. If the temperature is near freezing and the road looks wet or glossy, treat it as possibly icy. If you do hit a patch, keep the wheel straight, do not brake or accelerate suddenly, and let the car pass over it.
If the car skids
- Stay calm and take your foot off the accelerator.
- Look and steer where you want the car to go. Small, smooth steering inputs work best.
- If the rear slides, steer gently in the direction the rear is moving, then straighten as the car recovers.
- Avoid heavy braking until you regain grip. If you must brake, do it smoothly.
- If the front slides, ease off the throttle and wait for grip to return before steering.
Practicing in an empty, safe parking lot under suitable conditions, where it is legal and safe to do so, can build confidence. Modern stability and traction control help, but they cannot create grip that is not there.
Visibility and lights
Use your headlights in snow, even during the day, to be seen. Falling snow and spray reduce visibility, so the same approach as in fog and low visibility applies: slow down, use low beams and keep your distance. Keep headlights, tail lights and windows free of snow and road spray. The principles of night driving also apply when it gets dark early.
Give snowplows and salt trucks plenty of room, and avoid passing them. Visibility around them can be poor and the road ahead of them may be less treated.
If you get stuck
- Do not spin the wheels, which digs the car in deeper.
- Clear snow from around the tires and exhaust pipe. A blocked exhaust can allow carbon monoxide into the cabin.
- Straighten the wheels and try gentle, steady acceleration, possibly in a higher gear. Sand, cat litter or traction mats can provide grip under the tires.
- Rock the car gently between forward and reverse, if your owner’s manual permits it.
- If you remain stuck, stay with the vehicle unless help is clearly nearby. Run the engine in short periods for heat while the exhaust is clear, and make sure you are visible. Call for roadside assistance or emergency services if needed.
Afterward
Wash off road treatments when you can, as salt and grime speed up corrosion, and check tires and wipers. If you notice unusual noises or warning lights after driving in harsh conditions, have the car checked by a qualified mechanic.