My first (and hopefully last) car accident ever was caused when I used the ill-advised technique of driving about two feet from the car in front of me (obviously not a good tactic in any climate, but cut me some slack. I was 20). Unfortunately, it was during a lake effect snow storm in northern New York. As usual, I had waited until the last possible minute I could leave Watertown and make it to Oswego for my evening class before I was late (if the weather had been crystal clear, the drive would have taken me about one hour). I got “stuck” behind a cautious driver in slushy snow on a county highway, slammed on my brakes when he slowed and lost control of my car. I was lucky because there wasn’t a car coming in the opposite direction and it was a rural road so there was no serious property damage. I spun a 180, hit a “No Parking” sign and ended up in a ditch facing the wrong direction. The sign shattered my rear passenger window, the shards of which littered my messenger bag (filled with books about poetry) for weeks to come.
Driving in snow and ice is tricky business for anyone, but for those who haven’t had to do it much in their lives, it’s a little more terrifying.
I’ve learned one or two things about driving in snow since that little fender bender, so here are a few personal observations about what has helped me when getting from Point A to Point B and back again in treacherous winter driving conditions.
1) Do you REALLY need to go out? This is an especially important question to ask yourself if you are taking children out on the road with you. On the flip side, don’t make avoiding driving in snow at all costs the thing that makes you hate living in a snowy environment. Use your best judgment practices and be prepared for a worst case scenario (for example, don’t leave your house without cold weather gear in subzero temps and snowy roads).
2) Drive cautiously at a reasonable speed – that might sound really obvious, but I have heard many stories over the years of people who thought 45 mph in a whiteout was a perfectly reasonable rate of speed. It’s not. Going slowly will not solve all your problems, but at least if you know not to go 55+ mph on a slush-covered road, you’ll probably be on your way to doing all right. If the road starts to feel a little “mushier” under your tires, that’s a good indication that you’ll have less control if something unexpected happens on the road in front of you and that you should SLOW DOWN.
2) Go slow – but DON’T STOP! Another really bad thing you can do is stop in a whiteout and expect the guy behind you who can’t see the front of his car to see you in time not to run over you on the highway. No matter how slow you go, keep moving forward (this is also a good life lesson). Remember not to slam on your brakes and – if you can help it – don’t slow down too suddenly. Sometimes it’s difficult to see brake lights – especially during daytime snow storms. Be like the tortoise, “slow and steady.” The whole not slamming on your brakes thing is less likely to happen if you’re not tailgating (see above example. 
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3) Steer into the skid – If you’re sliding right, STEER right, if you’re sliding left, STEER left. Also, let off the gas AND the brake. The brakes will lock up your wheels, the gas will make you go faster into the car next to you, or send you spinning like top into the nearest landmark, road sign, car, person – you get my drift? (Bad pun intended.) Focusing on correcting the slide rather than deceleration or acceleration always helps me get control of my vehicle fastest.
4) When it comes time to stop, don’t wait until the last minute. Start braking early and gently pump the brake until you glide to a stop. It’s not rocket science – the harder you step on the brake on an icy road, the more likely you are to skid and lose control. When I brake toward a stoplight in a snow storm, it looks like the bass line to Stayin’ Alive. Firm, steady, upbeat. I’m a disco braker.
5) Similarly, feather your gas. It really is a similar movement to pumping your brakes, only less firm. You have to be more gentle with the gas – more like a 80s power ballad – it starts soft, but builds to a crescendo. Like Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin.’”
Those five practices are the driving methods I use most often when driving in snow. I’m sure there are a lot I left out, so feel free to add your own tips and good/bad driving vignette in the comments section.
