How do I drive safely in snow and ice?

Grip is finite and shared between braking, steering and acceleration. On ice there is very little of it, so anything sudden uses up the available grip and the car slides. Smoothness is not a style choice; it is the technique.

Safety

What you'll need

• Ice scraper and de-icer
• Warm clothing
• Torch (optional)
• Blanket, water and food (optional)

Step by step

1. Clear all the glass, mirrors, lights and the roof.Snow left on the roof slides onto the windscreen under braking. A peephole cleared in the windscreen is both dangerous and usually an offence.
2. Set off in second gear where possible.It reduces torque at the wheels and helps avoid wheelspin. Modern automatics often have a winter mode that does the same.
3. Increase your following distance dramatically.Stopping distances can be up to ten times longer on ice. The gap that feels absurd is the correct one.
4. Make every input gentle and gradual.Brake, steer and accelerate smoothly and separately. Doing two at once uses grip you may not have.
5. Brake in a straight line before a bend, not during it.Slow down while going straight, then steer. Braking and steering together is the classic way to lose the car.
6. Use engine braking on descents.A low gear controls speed without relying on the brakes, which can lock and remove steering entirely.
7. Know what to do in a skid.Come off the accelerator and steer gently into the direction of the slide. Do not brake hard, and do not steer sharply.
8. Be extra careful where ice hides.Bridges, shaded roads, early morning, and untreated side roads. A clear main road tells you nothing about the road you turn onto.

Tips

• Winter tyres make a substantial difference below about 7°C, well beyond just snow. In consistently cold regions they are worth the cost.
• If you get stuck, straighten the wheels, clear snow from in front of the tyres, and try gently in a high gear. Spinning the wheels polishes the surface to ice.
• Set off earlier rather than driving faster. Almost all winter driving trouble comes from time pressure.

Common mistakes

• Driving with snow left on the roof — It slides forward onto the windscreen under braking, blocking your view at exactly the wrong moment.
• Braking while turning on ice — Braking and steering compete for the same limited grip. Slow down in a straight line, then steer.
• Spinning the wheels to get moving — It melts and polishes the surface into ice under the tyre, making it harder to move than before.

Questions people ask