The low temperatures turn the snow into ice, which makes the situation very dangerous if we need to take the car. That is why it is convenient to know how to detect and successfully overcome a sheet of ice. First, you must be aware of the outside temperature; If your vehicle has a thermometer, it will notify you if the temperature drops to freezing levels (below 3ºC) .
With few exceptions, you will not find a completely icy road, but unexpected plates. It is advisable to drive in long marches and with more care in shaded areas and bridges, as indicated by the DGT.
The low temperatures these days put traffic safety at risk. Pay special attention at night, in shady areas, tunnels and mountain passes. Don’t skate!⛸️⛸️
✅ Slow down
✅ Drive with long gears
✅And if you step on a plate of ice…⤵️⤵️ pic.twitter.com/8xoNokkWmU— Dir. Gral. Tráfico (@DGTes) February 27, 2023
Particular attention should also be paid to the road: the more shiny the asphalt, the more chances of icy patches. If in the end you step on one, the car you will lose grip and momentarily control. The most suitable and important thing is to lift your foot off the accelerator, do not brake and keep your hands firm on the wheel. On ice, the tires (except winter ones) have zero grip: braking, accelerating or turning the steering wheel would be even worse.
Also, with ice or snow on the asphalt, driving changes completely and the fact that the car has front or rear wheel drive also conditions a lot. But, above all, and regardless of the type of tires that the car has, what will most influence the response of a vehicle in these conditions will be if we drive on the flat or, on the contrary, go up or down a road.
In principle, his thing would be not to drive in these conditions if he does not take the car prepared. However, if there is no other choice and the storm catches us by surprise, going uphill with a front-wheel drive and summer tires will have to be very gentle on the accelerator and go up in one or two higher gears than usual. Things will go well as long as you don’t have to stop and the snow is fresh and fresh.
With a rear-wheel drive, things will get complicated much sooner and, even, the car will barely move from the spot. But if instead of going uphill, we drive on a downhill slope, we would have to resort to short gears, to use engine retention and to brake as little as possible and, if so, in a very smooth and delicate way.
«In the case of losing control, the best thing is for the car to slide down the plate without accelerating and brake very gently to avoid locking the wheels and until regaining grip; if it proves impossible, the steering wheel will have to be turned in the opposite direction to that in which the nose of the vehicle is pointing,” he explains. Javier Cabanasdirector of the ALD Automotive Driving School.
“You have to pay special attention to the shady areas of the road, as they usually freeze permanently” and appeals to the responsibility of drivers: “when getting behind the wheel, if there is an option, you have to try to find the Central hours of the day, when the temperature is higher and many ice sheets have disappeared,” he adds.