Winter is upon is, snow is falling, and overnight rains mixed with below freezing temperatures are leaving the roads slick or piled with slush and snow. If you know that the roads are icy, you’re better off staying put, at least until snow plows and sanding/salting crews do their thing. If you must be on the road, follow winter driving safety tips. While learning to drive safely on wintry roads can help prevent skidding, you should learn how to recover from a skid in case you hit a patch of ice.
If your rear wheels skid:
- Stay calm and do not slam your brakes. Ease your foot off the gas and steer in the direction of the skid. For example, if your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left.
- If your rear wheels start sliding the other way, ease the steering wheel to that side. You may have to steer back and forth a few times before you completely regain control.
- Do not pump your brakes if you have anti-lock brakes. Apply steady pressure. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
If your front wheels skid:
- Stay calm and do not slam your brakes. Ease your foot off the gas and shift to neutral. Don’t try to steer right away.
- Steer in the direction you want to go as your wheels skid sideways. Accelerate gently as you regain control of the car.
- Do not pump your brakes if you have anti-lock brakes. Apply steady pressure. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
Ice isn’t the only thing you have to worry about on snowy days. Whether your car’s tires get slightly snowed in over night or you misjudge the depth of snow when parking in a snowy area, getting stuck is a common problem during wintry weather conditions. If your car gets stuck:
- Do not spin the wheels, as this will only dig you in deeper.
- Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and underside of the car, if needed.
- Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel, or salt in the path of the wheels for traction.
- Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
- Place gentle pressure on the gas to ease your car out. You can also try rocking the vehicle, if doing so is ok’d by your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Shift from forward to reverse, then back again, putting light pressure on the gas.
- Recruit a friend or neighbor to push against the back of your vehicle as you ease or rock out.