Driving Safety Tips: Preventing Car Accidents On Icy Roads

There was a rash of car accidents in Indiana this month caused by icy roads and winter weather conditions. Indiana State Police responded to dozens of accidents after one snowstorm left slick roads for holiday travelers – roads that Indiana’s large fleet of snow plows could simply not keep up with.

Driving on ice may be the most dangerous of all weather conditions. Even the thinnest layer of ice can make it easy for you to lose control of your car, slide off the road, or slide into other traffic. It doesn’t need to be snowing for there to be ice on the road, and ice is not always visible, especially on dark nights or in snowy conditions.

Here are a few safety tips for driving on ice and in icy weather:

• If at all possible, stay off of the roads altogether. Even expert drivers can lose control in icy weather, and not driving on ice is a 100 percent fool-prove way of preventing an ice-related car accident and car accident injury.
• Realize your stopping distance will increase. Icy roads means that it will take much longer for your vehicle to come to a stop, and that you could slide or skid when you attempt to brake.
• Know that ice forms in some places before others. Even though long stretches of road could be clear, watch for ice forming early on bridges, overpasses, and tunnels.
• Understand how your vehicle handles icy roads. All vehicles are different, and some perform better in winter weather conditions. Know how your car reacts on snowy roads, as well as if it is equipped with any safety features, such as slide control, before you get behind the wheel. Be especially cautious when driving on ice in an unfamiliar vehicle, such as a rental car.
• Know your car’s features. Your car will handle differently on the ice depending on whether it is front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, or all wheel drive. It will also handle differently depending on whether it has anti-lock brakes.
• Be aware of black ice. Black ice isn’t visible to those driving cars, making it especially dangerous. It often forms in shady areas and rural areas – or anywhere that does not receive direct sunlight.




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