Avoiding a crash on snow and ice is possible, but you need to think ahead and stay calm when things get dicey. Here are a few tips that you can use to avoid a crash.

First of all, you need to understand that tires that are locked up and skidding on snow and ice will cause you to lose control of your vehicle. That’s because a tire that has stopped turning while the car continues moving forward has no traction. It will just slide across the icy surface and you will be out of control.

That’s why anti-lock brakes were invented, to keep your tires from locking up and losing control. They are a great help, but you can do even more to avoid trouble when you are out on the slick streets.

When you are coming up to a turn, slow down as much as you can before you get to the corner, then slowly release the brakes and make your turn. This allows the wheels to continue turning, which helps you maintain traction. Then slowly accelerate to safely complete your turn.

If you find yourself sliding on an icy street, remain calm and try to slowly steer over to some deeper snow on the side of the street if possible. Many times the snow gives you the extra grip that you need to get your car slowed down safely before you hit something.

Be careful when you come into a turn lane, even if the main streets that you have been driving on are melted. Many times the turn lanes freeze up long before the rest of the streets do and all it takes is a little ice for you to lose control and slam into another vehicle.

Also, slow down and allow a lot of room between you and other drivers. It seems like common sense, but we all get impatient sometimes and that’s when accidents usually happen. Take a deep breath and relax, especially if you are heading in to work. I mean c’mon, slow traffic is the perfect excuse to miss that morning meeting!

Another big reason for crashes in this type of weather is because of visibility issues. Make sure that your lights are working and cleared off and take time to warm up the car and clear your windows before you head out on the road.