Icy Roads Car Accidents, The Dangers Of Winter Driving

Even a light amount of snow or a drizzle of freezing rain can quickly turn roads, bridges, and shaded areas into black ice. If you find yourself driving on an icy road, take these suggestions for staying calm and in control:

1. Drive slowly. High speeds make it both easy to lose control and difficult to stop. It takes a lot longer to reduce your speed or come to a stop without good road traction.
2. Time of day. Remain extra cautious at sunrise and sunset, when temperatures drop down and black ice most often forms.
3. Danger zones. Bridges, overpasses, and shady areas will ice over more quickly than other areas and will stay frozen for much longer.
4. Equipment. Keep a survival kit in your trunk in case of emergency. Equipment could include a windshield scraper, a shovel, road salt, a flashlight, booster cables, battery powered radio, a first aid kit, matches, emergency flares, a blanket, and a cell phone adapter to plug into your lighter receptacle.
5. Signals. Make sure to brake and signal turns far in advance to warn other drivers what you’re going to do.
6. Icy patches. If your car begins to slide, remain calm, keep your foot off the pedals, steer in the general direction you want to go, and find areas of the roadway that offer traction.