How to Control Your Vehicle in Slippery Conditions

Winter is the period of the year when driving can beThis will not only give you enough time and prevent
very stressful and truly annoying because of the badskidding, but also prevent you from water and dirt
weather and the slippery roads. These require muchbeing splashed over your windshield.
more attention and a practiced driver if one wants toYou should be completely familiar with your car and
avoid accidents. Controlling the car is a veryhow the different devices work so that you can
significant part of winter driving, as one always haseasily use them when the need arises, and there is
to remain alert lest the car becomes affected by theless time to complete the task. Your movements of
slippery road.the steering wheel and the pressure on the brakes
Driving the car at a slow speed is very important.and accelerator should be mild and no jerky motions
This will help you in keeping traction that has alreadyshould be made. Any jerky movements will make
been lost due to the ice on the road. Your speed canyou lose traction.
be lower than the specified speed limit. However, youWhile passing through shady spots, you should be
should make sure that you don’t go over thatcareful lest there might be ice lingering in some areas.
speed limit. Make sure you follow all the directions onIf there is any ice and you are unaware of it, you
the roads, and don’t ignore any of the warningmay lose control of the car and the car might spin.
signs as they are essential to your safety. Even ifWhen on the road, try not to get too close to snow
you drive a four wheel drive, you should keep theploughs, as they have to make sudden stops and this
speed of the car slow. In order to keep your car inwill affect you.
control, you have to slow down in slippery conditionsVisibility is a very important factor and you should
regardless of what kind of car you are driving.not try to keep on driving if the snow pole is not
In order to maintain control of your vehicle andvisible to you, or you can’t see the edge of the
prevent the car from skidding, you should keep aroad. In case of reduced visibility, you should pull the
good distance from the car in front of you. Thiscar over to a side and wait for the conditions to get
would give you ample time to stop when you applybetter. Manual acceleration is crucial on slippery roads,
the brakes. The brakes should be applied in a timelyand cruise control should not be used in such
manner in order to avoid colliding with the other car,conditions. You should also make sure that your
or skidding. The distance between you and the otherattention is not diverted by the radio, cell phone or
car should be equal to the length of about four cars.someone else in the car.