Tips for Driving on Ice

If possible, the smartest choice would be to avoid driving during icy road conditions altogether. Of course, we all have obligations that may force us to have to deal with adverse weather conditions. If you have a choice, you would want to refrain from driving at least until the snow plows and salting/sanding trucks have had a chance to do their jobs. If you have to be somewhere at a certain time, make sure to give yourself plenty of extra time so that you can drive as slowly and as cautiously as the conditions dictate.

It is definitely helpful to know your vehicle and what its capabilities are when it is being operated on icy or potentially icy roadways. In order to find out, drivers can take practice some slow-speed maneuvering at an empty snow or ice covered parking lot.

Probably the single most important think to be mindful of is to driving, steering, and braking more slowly. Give yourself plenty of extra distance between you and other vehicles. The distance needed to stop on icy roads can be twice as much as when driving on dry surfaces.

Make sure that your lights are on to give other drivers plenty of warning regarding your position on the road. If it happens to be snowing at the time you will have better visibility using your low beam headlamps.

You will want to be extra careful when traveling on bridge, on/off ramps, overpasses, and infrequently traveled roads, which will be the first ones to freeze. Even if the temperatures are a bit above freezing, you may find shady areas on exposed roadways that are iced over.

Try not to get overconfident, especially when driving four-wheel drive vehicles. It may be a lot easier to gain traction with a 4×4 or an all-wheel drive but that does not mean that stopping will be made simpler.

If you feel that you are in need of a vehicle that will perform better in icy conditions contact a new or used truck sales professional at Cross Keys Auto in St Louis.