With black ice possible, make sure you know these winter weather driving tips
Whether it’s actively snowing or there’s black ice on the roads, driving conditions can deteriorate quickly when North Carolina experiences winter weather.
That makes it important to stay in-the-know about safe driving practices.
While the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) urges motorists to stay off the roads as much as possible during winter storms, sometimes there’s no avoiding it.
If you find yourself needing to drive in winter weather, or just want to stay prepared in case you do, here are useful tips and tricks from NCDOT and the N.C. Department of Public Safety for how to stay safe.
Before driving in winter weather
Before you ever get in your vehicle, it’s important for both you and your vehicle to be prepared for driving in winter weather.
▪ Make sure your vehicle is running well. Check your tire pressure and battery power, as colder temperatures can cause the air pressure and power to drop.
▪ Keep an emergency supply kit in your car in case you get stranded. NCDOT recommends your kit include:
- Ice scraper
- Snow brush
- Extra windshield wiper fluid
- Extra anti-freeze
- Basic automotive tool kit, including jumper cables and flares
- Flashlight
- First aid kit
- Blanket
- Shovel
- Sand (to give your tires traction)
- Non-perishable food and snacks
- Drinking water
▪ Make sure you have at least a half-tank of gas and a full reservoir of windshield wiper fluid. Even short commutes can turn into long drives when storms hit.
▪ Clear as much snow and ice from your vehicle as possible to keep it from blowing off and obscuring your view or hitting other drivers’ vehicles. That includes clearing from the windows, mirrors, roof, hood, trunk, bumper, headlights and tail lights.
Tips for driving in winter weather
If you absolutely have to drive in winter weather, use these tips from NCDOT:
▪ Slow down and maintain plenty of distance between you and other vehicles. Excessive speed is the No. 1 cause of wrecks in winter weather, NCDOT says.
▪ Use your windshield wipers and turn on the low beam headlights.
▪ If you must pass another car, do so with extreme caution.
▪ Do not use cruise control.
▪ Approach bridges and overpasses with extreme caution since they accumulate ice first. Do not apply your brakes while on a bridge.
▪ Come to a complete stop or yield the right of way when approaching an intersection where traffic lights are out. Treat this scenario as a four-way stop.
▪ Drive smoothly, without sudden accelerating, braking or turning.
What to do if your car starts to slide
If you feel your car start to slide as you’re driving, don’t panic. Try to stay calm and use these tips from NCDOT:
▪ If you begin to slide, take your foot off the gas and turn the steering wheel in the direction of the slide.
▪ Avoid using your brakes, if possible. Applying the brakes will cause you to further lose control of your vehicle.
If you have to use the brakes, use them gently.
- Apply gentle, steady pressure to anti-lock brakes.
- For standard brakes that are not anti-lock, pump the brake pedal gently to avoid locking up.
▪ Wait for your vehicle to slow down enough to regain traction before gently accelerating.
▪ For rear-wheel skids, turn the steering wheel in the direction your rear wheels are headed. Instead of focusing on what your vehicle might be headed toward, focus on getting out of the skid.
▪ For front-wheel skids, shift into neutral and don’t try to steer immediately. When your vehicle begins to slow down, steer in the direction that you want your vehicle to go, then put the vehicle into gear and gently accelerate.
Beware of black ice
As you drive, you may run into black ice — a thin, transparent coating of ice on roads — which can be extremely dangerous and cause your vehicle to slide.
▪ The ice may appear as wet spots on the road, or blend in with the black pavement entirely, making it unclear that the spot is actually frozen.
▪ Black ice is often the result of melting ice and snow that refreezes.
▪ Black ice is unpredictable. While NCDOT does its best to treat areas that are prone to black ice, it is unpredictable, and most of the time, drivers aren’t aware of it until it’s too late.
The best way to avoid black ice is to stay off the road, NCDOT says.
What to do if you get stuck
If you find yourself stuck in snow and unable to move, use these tips:
▪ Don’t spin your wheels. Doing so will only dig you in deeper. Instead, turn your wheels from side to side to help clear the snow, then turn the steering wheel so the tires are as straight as possible.
▪ Use a shovel — remember, you should keep one in your vehicle’s emergency kit — to clear the snow in front of and behind your tires.
▪ Spread non-clumping cat litter, sand or salt in the cleared areas around your tires. This will help you gain traction. Remember, you should keep one of these items in your emergency kit.
▪ If you aren’t able to get un-stuck using the methods above, you could try rocking your vehicle back and forth. Shift from forward to reverse and back again, using a light touch on the gas pedal. Resist the temptation to spin your wheels. Warning: Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual first, as some vehicle transmissions might be damaged using this strategy.
If there is an accident
If you are involved in a car accident while driving during winter weather, or you see someone else is, follow these steps from the N.C. Department of Public Safety:
▪ Contact State Highway Patrol by dialing *HP (*47) on your phone.
▪ If your vehicle is running, scrape away any snow or debris from the exhaust pipe to prevent carbon monoxide build up inside the car.
▪ Stay in the car. Do not leave to search for assistance. You may become disoriented and lost in blowing and drifting snow.
▪ Newspapers, maps and even the car mats can be used for added insulation, if you are stranded for a long period of time. Having a blanket in your emergency kit will come in handy here, too.
▪ Use a brightly colored cloth to attract attention of passing motorists who can help report your situation to law enforcement.
This story was originally published January 3, 2022 at 3:48 PM.
