Tips on navigating through slick icy roadways
As the effects of the winter storm start to melt away and businesses start to open back up, the slick roadways are bound to see more traffic.
If you are planning to go out before the roads completely thaw, using your best caution is the ideal way to go about it.
Before you hit the road, be sure to have a full tank of gas, a fully charged cell phone, warm clothes and blankets, a flashlight, and your driver’s license and insurance information.
To prepare your vehicle to go out, it is important to thoroughly clear windows and vehicle lights of all ice or snow so you can see where you are going; if anything, seeing where you are going is the most important thing.
To remove ice from your windshield, start your vehicle’s defrost at full heat and set the airflow to the recirculate setting.
Homemade de-icing solutions can also be made using one part rubbing alcohol and two parts water. Adding a few drops of dish soap to the mixture can help the solution coat the ice more evenly. Once ice on your vehicle begins to melt, a scraper, squeegee or soft bristle brush can be used to remove it.
Make sure that your tires are properly inflated and well balanced in pounds per square inch (PSI). The ideal amount of PSI per tire is between 30 and 35.
In cold weather like this, the air in your tires can condense and take up less space, decreasing the tire’s PSI. It is best to check each tire’s PSI to see if any of them need air before you make your trip.
Once your vehicle is cleared of snow and ice and you are on the road, it is important to wear a seat belt, drive slowly and increase stopping distance.
If your vehicle has four-wheel or all-wheel drive, do not get overconfident about traction just because of that. These types of vehicles do not stop or steer better on ice than regular two-wheel drive vehicles, so still use caution.
Be extra vigilant on bridges, overpasses and ramps. These types of passages get colder than asphalt because they are concrete and there is no insulation provided by the ground, so they are the first to freeze and the last to thaw.
Never use cruise control in icy conditions, ever. It can cause your wheels to spin at different speeds and make you lose control of your steering.
If your vehicle suddenly feels like it is floating, take your foot off the gas, but do not slam on your breaks unless you want to skid – not many people want to skid, so you probably would not want to either.
Do not ever think about passing other vehicles in these conditions. If someone tries to pass you, gently steer to the shoulder as far as you safely can to give them more room.
The most important thing is to be calm and relaxed all while being cautious because being uneasy and frantic on the road is never a good thing, icy conditions or not.