Safety tips for driving on icy roads
February 13, 2025
Even the slightest amount of snow or ice on the road can transform a simple sales or service route into a white-knuckled drive, and for good reason.
According to data from the Traffic Accident Information System (TAIS), almost 30% of car accidents in Canada happen on snowy or icy roads. Their findings also showed that nearly 40% of all work-related crashes that result in injury and time loss occur between November and February.
So, while the best course of action is to simply avoid driving in poor weather conditions, the reality is often that just isn’t possible, especially for fleet drivers. To help you stay safe on the roads this winter, we are sharing our safety tips for driving on icy roads.
Drive with caution
“Drive carefully” may seem obvious, but data from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), tells us that 94% of serious crashes are due to some form of human error. When weather conditions are bad, there can be an inclination to drive faster to get to your destination quickly.
A more cautious approach to winter driving can go a long way to reducing the possibility of an accident. Here are some Do’s and Don’ts to drive safely on icy roads:
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Do |
✓ |
Stay calm and let your vehicle pass over black ice. Ease your foot off the accelerator. |
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✓ |
When it’s cold and rainy, check the weather conditions before getting on the roads. |
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✓ |
Decease your normal driving speed. |
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✓ |
Increase following distance to between 8 and 10 seconds from the vehicle ahead. |
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Don't |
❌ |
Hit the brakes suddenly. |
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❌ |
Overcorrect your steering if you feel your car sliding. |
When decelerating on icy roads
Braking in icy conditions can be tricky and cause your vehicle to skid. Keep in mind that braking distance is twice as long in 0-degree Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius) conditions than it is at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degree Celsius). The American Automobile Association (AAA) recommends a following distance of at least 10 seconds. This should give you enough time to brake safely.
If you don’t have anti-lock brakes, place the heel of your foot on the floor and use your ankle muscles to control your foot’s pressure on the brake pedal, applying steady pressure to the “threshold” of locking, but continue to let the tires spin just enough to avoid a full skid. If you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS), do not remove your foot from the brake, and do not pump it. Pumping the brake will cause the brakes to not work properly.
Emergency steering methods when driving in icy conditions
The AAA recommends employing emergency steering methods when driving in icy conditions. The two methods you should use:
- The push-pull-slide method of steering involves shuffling your hands so that neither hand crosses over the imaginary line between 12 and 6 o’clock. Since your arms never cross, you can make continuous adjustments in either direction.
- The fixed-hand steering method allows rapid 180-degree steering in either direction, but, according to the AAA, has one shortcoming. This method is confining in that your arms may get locked together as you attempt to steer past 180 degrees, limiting your ability to make fine adjustments.
In the event of a skid, (often caused when too much pressure is applied on the brakes or acceleration happens too quickly) remain calm, keep your eyes on the road, steer in the direction you want to go, and avoid braking too hard.
- For a rear-wheel skid, oversteer to remain in control and continue to steer to avoid a rear-wheel skid in the opposite direction.
- For a front-wheel skid, understeer and wait for the front wheels to grip the road. As soon as traction returns, the vehicle will respond to steering, and you can steer gently in the desired direction of travel.
If you are going to be travelling well under the posted speed limit, be sure to turn your hazard lights on. It is good practice to familiarize yourself with where they are in your vehicle before you begin your drive.
Ultimately, driving in icy conditions requires a combination of remaining calm, cool, and collected to stay safe. And by employing these safety tips for driving on icy roads, you can make sure the cold never bothers you anyway.
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