I am a new winter driver and i have to drive on the interstate to get to school...does anyone have some advice?

Bill F

Take it slow. That is the most important thing. If you are driving on ice or snow, you can't panick. NEVER slam on your brakes or your gas. Even if you lose control of your vehichle, don't panick, and don't slam on your brakes.

Stacy

Be cautious when getting on the freeway and leave plenty of room between you and the car in front of you, in case you need to stop on slippery ground. Hopefully, the ramp you'll be using is long, but where I live lots of them are short. With a short ramp, you need to really be prepared to merge with traffic. In winter, black ice can catch you off-guard quick, so be on the lookout for any wet surfaces on the road.

Be watchful as you drive. (No talking on the cell phone, flipping through radio stations, or applying makeup, etc.) Just because some other driver is speeding through the slush like it's dry pavement doesn't mean you should, too. That driver may be 2 seconds from losing control and killing himself. Which brings me to another safety tip: you really need to be a defensive driver in winter to avoid run-ins with idiot drivers.

And be prepared to exit off the freeway ahead of time. If you do accidentally miss your exit, just calmly try for the next one. It's better to have to drive a little further than to have an accident because you tried to cut in front of another driver.

dirtytricksracing@sbcglobal.net

Slow down carry some emergency items in your car. Sand , shovel
a blanket , stay off the cell phone or hands free period. Allow plenty of time. Add extra distance between you and the car ahead of you. Watch weather forecast and do not assume you can drive when they warn people to stay off the road..

Sahara

Keep plenty of space between you and the car in front. At least 2 car lengths. Pay attention to the driver behind you.

Go slow. Pay attention to how your car feels on the road. Do you feel like you have control? If you do then you are ok. If you don't then you need to slow down but do so gradually. Do not slam on the brakes. Take your foot off the gas first. If you need to slow down, grip the wheel straight and slowly press the brake.

If you find yourself fishtailing then don't fight the turn, go with it. Hold the wheel steady. Slow down. You should come out of it. Again pay attention to cars around you. Keep safe.

Do not be in a hurry ever in icy or snowy conditions. Watch out for black ice. You cannot see it. Go slow if you suspect that there could be black ice out there. Pay close attention. Do not panic. There is no reason to panic. Just be calm and alert.

UCANTCME

Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.

Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.

Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.

Keep your lights and windshield clean.

Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.

Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.

Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.

Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.

Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads

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