It is not unusual to see a car slide on ice for people driving in cold and snowy conditions. To prevent a dramatic incident from occurring, you should prepare your car for winter driving and then, you should know what to do if your car starts sliding on ice. Your car’s tires can lose their grip and send you careening into other cars or off the road. You can experience a great risk of crashing into another vehicle or guardrail if your car slides out of control.
There are some precautions you can take to minimize your risk in this situation. This short article will brief you on what to do and not when your car is sliding on ice.
What should you do when your car slides on ice?
Cars can slide in all sorts of ways. Sometimes it’s because of ice, other times it’s because of the rain. No matter what causes your vehicle to careen out of control, there are some things you should do to get your car back on the road before hitting anything (or anyone!).
Drivers should keep driving straight ahead if the car is not blocking a lane and maintain a safe speed. They put on their brakes, turn their steering wheel, and try to grind down that snow under the tires. These are all good things to do in most cases, but it merits serious attention to what you shouldn’t do in this situation.
And you should also winterize your car to prevent any of the accidents.
What should You avoid if your car is sliding on ice?
A recent article in the New York Times titled “What not to do when your car slides” by columnist Joel Stein highlights how drivers can make mistakes in an emergency. Stein gives examples of people making the wrong decisions, such as turning on their hazards lights, pulling over to the side of the road, or following other cars who are driving poorly.
Here you go with common and instinctive reactions when a car starts sliding on ice and how they can make the situation graver if not checked and avoided.
Driving too Fast
Yes, first thing to remember is- DON’T FOLLOW THE CHASING SCENE FROM THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS!
YEAH, REAL LIFE IS NOT DOMINIC TORETTO!!
A common mistake people make when driving in icy conditions is to drive too fast. While a person may be able to keep control of the car when going at a slower speed, this will not always be the case when they are going much faster. If a person loses control of the vehicle while going faster, they could potentially slide into other cars or off the road and into an area where they could easily sustain major damage.
So, it is important to stay slow and steady when driving on ice. It’s tempting to keep up with traffic, but it can lead to dangerous accidents. When you hear your car making a scraping sound, stop immediately! You are likely spinning out of control and need help from other cars or someone.
Read: How to drive on black ice?
Abrupt Braking
The best way you can avoid accidents on ice is not to brake abruptly, as this can cause skidding and create a risk of sliding off the road. If you need to slow down, it’s best to do so smoothly and gradually so that your car is not coming to a stop too quickly.
Sad enough, many people do not realize that these actions can have as much effect when the vehicle is being driven on a flat surface. When drivers brakes abruptly with their foot on the gas pedal, they force the front wheels to lock up and skid across the slippery surface.
You should never forget when you’re driving on ice and the surface suddenly becomes slick; you’ll need to slow down gradually to avoid abrupt braking. This type of braking is likely to cause your vehicle to slide in the opposite direction-which could lead to a collision with another vehicle or tree. If your vehicle does begin to skid, turning off the gas but not touching the brake pedal may help you regain control of it.
Read: How to survive falling through ice?
Accelerating Rapidly
As a driver, you should avoid accelerating rapidly while driving on ice. This is because if the vehicle’s weight shifts too quickly while negotiating a curve or turning, it could cause a loss of control and lead to a skid that starts with over-steering before moving to under-steering and finally to spinning out. If this occurs, be sure to slow down and release the gas pedal gradually. You can also use your brakes to help you regain control of the car.
Fast acceleration can make your car slide further, increasing the chance of crashing into an object or person. The best thing to do when sliding on ice is to steer in the direction you want your car to go and accelerate at a reasonable rate.
Turning Steering Abruptly
One of the most common accidents on snowy, icy roads is when drivers turn their steering wheel while moving. This action may seem like a good idea, but it can cause your car to spin or slide even further out of control. That is why the best thing you can do if you start to slide on ice is to take your foot off the gas pedal and press firmly on the brake pedal instead.
More accidents happen due to drivers not understanding how much traction is lost when driving over ice, which often turns their steering wheel when they feel themselves sliding. So avoid turning steering wheels while driving on ice to prevent turning abruptly and change directions unexpectedly.
Wrap Up…
Now that you are reading the concluding part is evident that you already know what to do and what not to when your car starts sliding on ice. However, the most important thing to stay calm when driving. If you panic, you’ll make matters worse by slamming on the brakes or accelerating too quickly.
To keep safe, when your car starts sliding on ice, the best thing to do is turn off the engine and put the car in neutral. This will keep it from spinning out of control and give you time to think of a plan. If you feel like you need help at this point, use your hazard lights or call for help if possible.
Now what to do if your car get stuck in the snow?
Read:
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