Driving Safely On Icy Roads

(CBS)  As if making up for lost time, Old Man Winter is back with a vengeance in parts of the country he's usually hit hard by now.

So there's no doubt people who live in regions with cold climates should be prepared to drive on ice-covered roads.

On The Early Show Wednesday, Robert Sinclair of AAA offered pointers to help assure you don't, as Paul Simon's song says in another context, go "slip slidin' away."

HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE OUR CARS ARE SAFE IN WINTER CONDITIONS?

Tire pressure is critical. It's really important to keep your tires properly inflated. You should be checking it once a week, ideally, and once a month at a minimum. Frequent and wide temperature swings can make a huge difference in tire pressure; you could be losing or have lost nine to 12 pounds per square inch. So you really need to monitor the pressure.

An even better thing to do is to put a dedicated radial snow tire on all four corners of the car. Snow tires are made from rubber compounds that are designed to stay flexible in the cold; normal, year-round tires may be flexible in summer, but become like hardened plastic in the cold.

You need to make sure your car is completely free of any ice or snow; ice or snow falling off the car can put you and other drivers in danger and lead to a crash. Make sure you have not only an ice scraper to scrape the ice off any windows, but a broom to clear any snow off the top of your roof. That is very important.

Have a winter-formula window washer fluid available so your windshield will be less likely to ice over. And make sure your wipers are in good shape.

WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER WHEN DRIVING IN ICY CONDITIONS?

Speed. You always need to keep your speed down when driving in ice or snow. Speed is the main cause for any crash in those conditions. Stay at a speed where you feel most comfortable. Remember, speed limits are for ideal conditions. It can take a vehicle nine times longer to come to a stop in wintry conditions, so keep a safe distance between you and the vehicles in front of you.

WE'VE HEARD SO MANY THEORIES ABOUT WHAT TO DO IF YOU HIT A PATCH OF ICE AND BEGIN TO SKID. WHAT'S THE PROPER WAY TO GET THROUGH IT SAFELY?

Most skids are caused by excessive speed in a turn. If you've gone into a turn too hard, the car begins to skid, because it loses traction. In the past, we've been told to steer in the direction of the skid, but that advice applied when vehicles were rear-wheel drive. Many are now front-wheel drive, so the new thinking is to look in the direction that you want to go in and steer in that direction. We are creatures of our eyes, so when you lose control, just keep focused on where you want to go; don't look at walls or other cars, because you will crash into them. Anti-lock brakes will enable wheels to keep turning and enable you to maintain control of steering. Just keep your foot on the gas.

If you don't have anti-lock brakes, use the threshold braking technique. Step on the brakes, sort of like pumping — pump, look and steer. Even on sheer ice, there is a measure of traction available and if you take advantage of that, you should be able to get around it.

IF YOU FIND YOURSELF STUCK DUE TO ICE AND SNOW, HOW SHOULD YOU TRY TO GET THE WHEELS TO STOP SPINNING? IS SALT THE BEST REMEDY?

No. You need an abrasive, non-clumping substance such as kitty litter or sand. You should have a small supply in your trunk for these types of situations. Also, it's best to carry with you a small spade or shovel to help clear away some of that snow and ice. And make sure the tailpipe is clear of snow before driving after a big storm. The fumes can back up and carbon monoxide is an insidiously quick killer.

HOW ABOUT THE IDEA OF KEEPING EXTRA WEIGHT IN YOUR VEHICLE IN WINTER? WHAT'S THE REASONING BEHIND THAT?

Most cars these days are either front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, so that advice wouldn't help you at all. In fact, that extra weight on the non-driving wheels might work against you, because it may make you more inclined to lose control of the vehicle.

ARE SUVS SAFER IN THE SNOW?

No, and frequently people who drive SUVs think they are, and so don't take as many precautions as they should. SUVs have a high center of gravity and relatively short and narrow wheel-base, and they're prone to rolling over even when the weather is good. If you go sideways, sliding around ice and snow and hit an imperfection in the snow, you're going to go over.

For much more on this from AAA, click here.

[n7nii]

I grew up, and learned to drive in Western NY (Niagara Falls/Buffalo area) and I have to disagree with a couple of items in this story.

Regarding extra weight in a REAR wheel drive vehicle, YES, especially if you drive any kind of a truck where the rear is much, much lighter than the front. This will give your drivers better leverage in the snow. The article is correct in advocating no extra weight in front-wheel drive vehicles; I wonder if he meant to say "four-wheel" drive instead of "rear-wheel" drive vehicles.

Also, he made it sound like SUVs are prone to roll without provocation. SUVs make up a large percentage of vehicles in this area (including my own Grand Cherokee), and although the percentage of idiotic drivers in SUVs is the same as the percentage in other vehicles, I have yet to see any rollovers. I do chuckle when I pass one in the ditch after thinking they can stop better on ice or snow than a two-wheel drive vehicle, a fallacy also pointed out in the article.

More accidents on icy roads are caused by excessive braking than by speed. Most people tend to drive more cautiously in bad weather, but panic and stand on their brakes. I've found that down-shifting, gentle pressure on the gas and sporadic braking (in addition to defensive driving) keep me moving around corners and potential accident-causing obstacles.

Above all, KNOW YOUR VEHICLE! Practice in empty parking lots in all kinds of weather so you know how it and you will react to various conditions.

[ndg1979]

First and foremost when it comes to bad weather - KNOW HOW TO DRIVE!!!!!! If you don't, go back to driving school so that you can someday save your own life.

Second, when it comes to bad weather. Practice, Practice, Practice in an open, EMPTY, flat, level lot when snow trucks have not been through. Find an open space and for only a small distance drive your vehicle at slow speeds out of control and use steering, throttle and braking to regain control. I can assure you that if I can properly control a 4,750 pound 1976 Dodge Monaco on snow and ice, you can too.

It makes no difference what type of vehicle it is - Front/Rear Drive, SUV, etc... Know it well and when you get good enough at driving in poor weather conditions, then you can have fun - LIKE DOING DONUTS WITH YOUR CAR!!!! I recommend a 76 Dodge for that task, or any other rear-drive 1980 or older Dodge or Chrysler.

MOPAR OR NO CAR WHETHER MO-SNOW OR NO SNOW!!
Stupid, but I like it!

[ndg1979]

Here is something else to chew on. I live in Western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh. We have much more fortunate this season than most in terms of snow, but here is what I have done to help teach myself how to drive in snow, since most people around here seem to passed their driving test by using a tricycle.

I now own a rear-drive 2006 Dodge Charger. Great car. It replaced a rear-drive 1976 Dodge Monaco, also a great car. I have taken both vehicles to a local mall parking lot at night when I know the roads are unsafe and the lot most likely has not been cleaned. I then pick an open area and practice losing and gaining control of my vehicle until I have achieved the objective - learn how to brake and steer in snow in an effort to save my life and perhaps someone elses.

MOST IMPORTANT - IF YOU DO THIS - KNOW YOUR SURROUNDINGS AND AVOID OBSTACLES LIKE LIGHT POSTS!

Today, I consider myself a driver who loves poor weather because I know that if I can drive safely in a mess, I can sure drive much more safely in good weather.

[payasyougo]

For the SUV owners:

4 wheels locked up and sliding out of control it doesn't matter what vehicle is bolted to them.

[geraldnewton]

Here in the interior of Alaska we drive on icy roads about 6 months out of the year. Since I have lived here for 40 years that gives me about 240 months or twenty years of driving on icy roads. So here is my advice:
First and foremost is to buy four each high grade snow tires. Have them studded with steel studs or buy the Blizzard ones that are cut to hold on ice and they are not required to be studded.
Secondly, buy a car with anti-skid brakes. Anti-skid brakes are incredibly better than conventional brakes.
Thirdly, if you can put weight over the regular driven tires do so. Several hundred pounds of sand bags will do the trick.
Fourth, use four wheel drive in traffic if you have it. Taking off on ice is greatly enhanced with four wheel drive.
Front wheel drive is better than rear wheel drive, but four wheel drive is better than either.
I drive a 2004 four wheel drive GMC 2500HD truck equiped with 4 studded snow tires and a 1999 Buick Century front wheel drive equiped with four studded tires. Both vehicles have anti-skid brakes.
And fifth and last: The biggest danger is other drivers that do not equip their vehicles properly and who have limited experience driving on ice and snow. Offensive driving is a must!