Winter driving is not just about driving on snow: the roads can also be icy and the danger is often much greater. As much as you can protect yourself against a road covered with ice, it is very difficult to anticipate the presence of ice, that thin invisible film of ice that forms on the roads. Be aware, however, that it is possible to avoid an accident on an icy road, phew!
Steps
Step 1. Realize that sleet is nothing but ice
It is therefore a thin layer of ice that forms on the ground (on the road, sidewalks, alleys, etc.), most often following a light rain or melting, then freezing. 'a layer of snow. In the word ice, there is the root "glass", the ice is transparent like … glass! Since it contains no air bubbles, ice is invisible on all smooth or rough surfaces. He has this treacherous aspect that it is almost impossible to perceive.
Step 2. Know where and how the ice forms
Ice appears when the temperature approaches the freezing point. On motorways, under certain conditions, ice forms under the combined effect of the warming of the road after passing cars and of a temperature close to the freezing point. Before setting off or on the road, listen to the weather forecast and motorway alerts.
- Ice forms in the evening or early in the morning when temperatures are minimum, but it can also be during the day if the sun cannot warm the atmosphere.
- Ice can also form on roads in the shade, such as in a tunnel or on a part protected by plane trees. It also tends to form on roads with little traffic.
- Ice is particularly present on bridges, viaducts and roads passing under these structures. Indeed, these constructions undergo in a way a double refrigeration, one from below and one from above.
Step 3. Know when to expect ice
Ice mostly appears at the end of the night and in the early evening. During the day, the road is often hotter and often treated. That doesn't mean, however, that ice doesn't form in the middle of the day. If the weather is cold, there is always the possibility of encountering a section of icy road.
Try to look for signs that tell of ice. If you are driving quietly and see the cars in front of you zigzagging, there is a good chance that there is ice on the road
Step 4. Learn to spot ice, if possible
As the ice is translucent, it can, with good lighting, be spotted as long as you are looking for it! Ice appears in the form of very smooth and shiny patches. A shiny stretch of road in winter is very likely to be covered with ice. If the tarmac is generally dull and you suddenly see a shiny patch, for sure it's ice, stay calm and follow our advice.
- This technique will not help you at night, because the low beams are not powerful enough and multidirectional. It only works in daylight… and again!
- If this comparison does not speak to you, think of two black cars of which one would have a matte paint (road without ice) and the other would have a glossy finish (road with ice): the shine is not the same, you will agree!
- It is not always possible to spot ice, but you have to remain vigilant all the same. Failure to spot the ice, you are on alert to face a critical situation. Take the opportunity to look to the sides to see what's going on.
Step 5. Know how to drive on slippery roads
If you live in a cold region, do not hesitate to take a few lessons in driving on slippery roads with a professional and in complete safety. You can also exercise on your own, for example in a large frozen parking lot. If you have ABS braking, see what braking does. See how the vehicle reacts when you turn the steering wheel in either direction. Once the fear has passed, this behavior is even exhilarating! Warning ! It's less fun on a narrow and busy road!
Step 6. Know how to react in the presence of ice
In case of ice on the road, stay calm and do not do anything! Good behavior is to act as little as possible and wait until the car has passed the ice zone. The use of the brakes is to be avoided, it is best to hold the steering wheel so that the car goes straight. If you feel that the rear of your car is going to the left (or right), turn the steering wheel in exactly the same direction. IF, as we do too spontaneously, you turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction, you increase the slip and risk the spin (see below what should be done).
Step 7. Slow down while decelerating
While taking your foot off the accelerator, maintain your trajectory with the steering wheel. Decelerating allows you to keep control of the vehicle and gain a few seconds to react.
- Above all, do not press on the brake pedal, otherwise the slip (we say “hunting”) guaranteed. In this situation, the vehicle must be kept on its path, doing as little as possible and while waiting for the end of the plate, it hardly exceeds 5 or 6 meters, except generalized ice.
Step 8. If you can, try to downgrade
This will give you more control over your car.
Step 9. Try to spot areas without ice
The roadway is not necessarily completely covered with ice. See if there are patches of snow, dirt or chippings in front of you or to the sides, which offer more grip and which, by rolling over them, would allow you to regain control of the vehicle.
Step 10. If you slip or have no more grip, stay calm (at least try
) If you ride slowly, nothing is lost! Fortunately, the ice is not always continuous, so that at one point or another, one or more tires will regain grip. Do not put too much strain on your brakes, unless the skidding is really too severe. In this case, proceed as follows:
- with a car equipped with anti-lock braking system (ABS), press the pedal a little firmly and wait to see what happens,
- if you don't have ABS, lightly press the brake pedal,
- in either case, position your steering wheel so that your vehicle stays on course.
Step 11. If you feel that you are inevitably going off the road, maneuver the steering wheel to touch the verge while limiting the damage
If you see a very flat field, a somewhat wide aisle, that's fine, let it be. Likewise, if you have a wall of snow, let yourself slide against it. Sometimes, we have no choice, opt for the most beneficial exit from the road.
Step 12. As soon as you ride on ice, stay calm
Granted, that's easy to say, as the situation is stressful, but panicking would only make matters worse. If you can't help but keep riding, do it slowly, very slowly. In this case, put on your hazard lights to alert other drivers that you are in a difficult situation.
Step 13. Get off the road as soon as possible
If the conditions are appalling, get to safety by going to a restaurant for something to eat or pull over on the side of the road, waiting for road services to come by to sand or salt the road. Better to waste time than life! You will decompress and better analyze the situation. Have a nice hot drink and rest!
On motorways, in the event of sudden braking and sustained traffic, there may be series pilings. Very quickly, you will have to make a decision, namely to stay in the car (in which you are relatively safe) or, on the contrary, to get out (to avoid the consequences of an accident, but you will then have to walk on a necessarily slippery surface, with intense cold and perhaps under the threat of another vehicle leaving the road). When making your decision, take into account where you are, how much traffic you have, whether you are already cold or not, whether you are in good physical shape
Step 14. Anticipate your passages on ice
It is possible, by being warned, to avoid being surprised by ice. Knowing how to behave on an icy road is essential.
- Drive slowly! Driving fast on an icy road is sure to cause an accident.
- Don't make a fishtail!
- Make sure that your windshield is not dirty, covered with ice, in short, you must be able to see the road. When you are a novice, the first instinct to remove the frost from the windshield is to activate the windshield washer and turn on the windshield wipers. Bad idea ! All you can do is damage your wiper blades. In the morning, to defrost a windshield, nothing beats a frost scraper. You will do this before you go.
- Always turn on your low beam headlights, so you can see patches of ice better thanks to the reflections.
- Check the condition of your tires. Used tires are often the cause of accidents, whatever the weather conditions. On ice, with good tires, you will have better traction and therefore better grip. The ideal is to install winter tires (“cold tires”) in good time.
- Important reminder: never drive on slippery roads with the cruise control engaged!
Advice
- Don't make phone calls while driving or get distracted by the radio! Concentrate on your driving.
- The most important thing when driving on ice is to avoid sudden movements. Steer the steering wheel too quickly, brake or accelerate too suddenly and you will go "into the background" with the consequences that one can imagine. If we had to give a picture of how to drive in such conditions, it would be to imagine that there is an egg between your sole and the brake (or accelerator) pedal, the objective being not to crush the egg. Do you feel the pressure that needs to be exerted?
- As soon as the bad season looms with its share of ice, fit your snow tires. This will be particularly useful if you are called upon to travel on unfamiliar roads and weather conditions.
- If you see that the weather is deteriorating and that ice is forecast, avoid driving as much as possible.
- If your car is equipped with ABS braking, know in advance how to brake with this type of system. If you're alone on the road, do a little test braking to see what it's like. If the test is successful, do a second one. Never take risks! Thus, you will be reassured during any real braking these!
- If ice is dangerous for cars, it is just as dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. For the latter, the danger is twofold: in addition to the fall itself, there is a risk of collision with other traffic elements (cars, trucks, etc.).
Warnings
- 4x4 vehicles, SUVs, pickups and other trucks all have a high center of gravity, which makes them vulnerable in these icy conditions. The vehicle can even roll over. If you don't want to experience this unpleasant experience, drive slowly.
- Never use cruise control on snowy or icy roads! You must be in control of your conduct.
- Remember the obvious: no adhesion is… no adhesion! Whether you have two or four-wheel drive or an SUV, if the grip is lacking, nothing and nobody can help you! Bottom line: even if you have a "special" vehicle, drive slowly and carefully.
- Concerning the skidding of the car, there are two scenarios: either it is the front which starts and you must turn the steering wheel to go in the direction opposite (if you slide to the right, turn the steering wheel to the left), either it is the rear that goes and you have to turn the steering wheel to go into the same direction (if you slide to the right, turn the steering wheel to the right). Easier said than done !