Driving On Icy Roads

Check Local Forecast – Be informed before you drive and monitor changing weather conditions
Plan Your Drive – Evaluate if you would be better off staying home. Once on the road if weather conditions change and you need to stop, then identify a safe place to stop. Parking lots and rest stops are generally safer than pulling over on the side of a road.
Reduce Distractions – Be Mindful that texting, checking a weather app, checking GPS or reaching for a drink while driving all increase your risk for collisions.
Be Mindful of Other Drivers – Increase your following distance to compensate for icy surfaces. Also be aware that other drivers may have less experience driving in poor weather conditions, and that large vehicles like tractor trailers may need more time to stop.
- According to the National Safety Council you may need more than 3 seconds for safe following distance during adverse weather conditions.
Drive Safely in All Vehicle Types – Safety features, 4 Wheel Drive and All Wheel Drive do make vehicles safer but you should still drive with caution when roads are icy.
Watch Out for Black Ice – Black ice forms when temperatures drop to 32 degrees or below causing water on a road to freeze in a thin clear sheet, like the glaze on a donut. Although this ice is clear it is called black ice because it is hard to see on a dark road especially at night or in shady areas.