Advice for safe driving on ice

How to prepare for driving on ice

When driving on an icy road, tyres can easily lose contact with the tarmac, reducing grip and traction compared to driving in dry conditions. Braking distances are also lengthened and can be up to 10 times longer than in normal driving conditions.

First and foremost, if you can, avoid driving on ice and only use your vehicle if strictly necessary. If possible, it is advisable to wait for conditions to improve or to use alternative forms of transport such as public transport.

If you have to use your car, it is vital that you are cautious, check if the outside temperature is approaching 0°C and if other cars are skidding. In this case, ice may be present in patches that can appear suddenly, requiring the utmost caution.

When driving on ice or in winter conditions it is important that your vehicle is in perfect condition (it is advised to have a vehicle winter check by a trained mechanic at your local vehicle dealer) and that you use approved high-quality winter tyres, remembering to check their pressure and tread wear. In addition, you should maintain maximum driving visibility by activating the windscreen defrost and making sure the traction control system is on and working.

Check the tyre grip

To get maximum grip on ice, you should check your tyres before setting off. Inspect the tread wear and general condition of the tyre to check for any bumps, signs of failure or cuts that may reduce performance.

By law, the minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6 mm, but for optimum grip it is advisable not to go below 4 mm in winter conditions. The deeper the tread depth on your tyres, the better the performance on ice compared to a more worn tyres, especially if its compound and tread pattern are optimised for winter driving.

Check the tyre pressure

Correct tyre pressure is a fundamental requirement for driving safely on ice. Pressure that is higher or lower than it should be reduces tyre performance and makes it harder to control the vehicle if it loses grip.

The correct tyre pressures for your vehicle are usually found in the vehicle manual, door pillar or fuel cap. Before setting off, it is important to check your tyre pressures are correct to ensure adequate contact between the tread and the road surface.

What is the braking distance on ice?

Braking distances are longer on icy roads than dry roads as the car has to cover a greater distance to stop in the event of an emergency. Cold temperatures can also affect the braking distance, further increasing the distance required to stop the vehicle.

In dry conditions, the average braking distance at 30 mph is around 25 metres, while on ice this distance can reach up to 250 metres depending on the tarmac conditions, the temperature and the type of vehicle. Good quality winter tyres allow braking distances to be shortened, but care should still be taken in the presence of ice and in cold temperatures.

In these cases, it is essential to reduce your speed and increase the safety distance from vehicles in front, to have enough space to stop without hitting the car in front if you need to brake in an emergency. Adequate distance also allows you to better manage skidding and sliding so that you remain in control of your vehicle and avoid collisions or accidents.

How to identify and drive on black ice

Ice is more treacherous than snow as it can be harder to spot on the road. What’s more, ice may only be present in patches on the road surface, causing sudden loss of grip and taking the driver by surprise.

It can be even harder to spot black ice, a smooth and transparent surface layer that forms on the tarmac in certain circumstances and can be almost invisible to drivers. Care must be taken when temperatures approach zero, especially first thing in the morning and at night. You should check to see whether other vehicles are skidding as this may indicate the presence of black ice on the road surface.

Similarly, black ice otherwise invisible to the naked eye may be identified by sunlight reflecting off the tarmac. In these situations, it is important not to turn the steering wheel or to brake, getting out of the patch of ice by proceeding in a straight line and maintaining a constant speed.

How to correct a skid on ice

If you skid on an icy road, it is important to remain calm and keep your hands on the steering wheel without braking or swerving. To control the skid, you should steer into it rather than against it, gently turning the wheels towards the skid to recover control of the vehicle.

For example, if the rear of the car is sliding to the left, you should steer in the same direction and not the other way. Once control is regained, you should slow down and brake gently, taking advantage of the engine brake as you change down through the gears.

Difference between driving on ice and in the rain

Vehicles tend to behave in the same way in both ice and heavy rain. A heavy rain downfall on the tarmac can create the same skidding issues and loss of grip thanks to a phenomenon called aquaplaning when there is too much water for the tread pattern to expel. In both cases you should reduce your speed, increase your safety distance and avoid turning the steering wheel or braking sharply, taking advantage of the engine brake and low gears to improve your grip.

Difference between driving on ice and in snow

The presence of snow tends to make cars behave in a similar way as in ice, a situation that always requires the utmost care and attention. It easier to lose control of the vehicle in icy conditions due to tyre slippage on the tarmac, although tyre grip is also significantly reduced on snow.

You should reduce your speed on snow and ice, lengthening the safety distance from other vehicles and driving slowly, avoiding sudden acceleration or braking. To improve grip, you should fit winter tyres to all four wheels, use low gears and set off in second gear. Read more driving in snow.