As of: February 3, 2024, 2:29 p.m
By: Simon Mones
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In winter, slippery conditions and snow have fatal effects on driving.
But fear is misplaced: with the right methods you will reach your goal safely.
When temperatures drop in winter, this has direct consequences for drivers: for example, winter tires or all-weather tires must be fitted.
The car also needs to be cleared of ice and snow.
Anyone who doesn't do this faces heavy penalties.
But ice on the roads can quickly become a problem in the cold season.
Every year, slippery conditions cause numerous accidents on the roads.
Be it because drivers are surprised by lightning ice or have to contend with poor visibility due to fog or snow.
Some road users then quickly react with uncertainty because the vehicle does not react as normal.
There is no reason to be afraid, because with a few tips you can reach your destination safely, even on black ice.
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Driving on black ice: Pay attention to distance and speed
In addition to the right tires - be careful, tires with the M+S symbol are only permitted until October - there are other measures you can take.
Foresighted and careful driving is particularly important in order to avoid accidents in winter.
The braking distance is longer due to the smooth surface.
You should therefore keep your distance and adjust your speed if the car warns of slippery conditions.
In winter there is a risk of black ice and lightning.
© Iamgebroker/Imago
In addition, you should not brake sharply, only accelerate slightly and avoid abrupt steering movements.
This will prevent the vehicle from lurching on slippery roads.
If it still breaks away, depress the clutch and countersteer slightly.
It is also advisable to drive as low as possible because the power transmission is best there.
If the wheels spin when starting off, it can help to drive off carefully in second gear.
Braking on black ice: press the pedal fully so that ABS takes effect
When making an emergency stop in a car equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), you should definitely press the brake pedal fully on slippery or black ice.
This is the only way the system can function optimally.
Don't be confused by the brakes rattling - this just shows that the ABS is working.
Disengaging the clutch can help reduce thrust, and sensitive steering helps you stay on track.
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However, on slippery roads, drivers may lose sense of the position of the front wheels as the steering wheel moves easily in such situations.
Once the wheels are sideways, safety systems such as ABS and ESP can lose their effectiveness.
Therefore, in such cases it is advisable to focus primarily on braking.
On older vehicle models without ABS, it is necessary to operate the clutch and release the brake briefly and then apply it again.
In contrast to vehicles with ABS, steering ability is not completely retained.
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And a look at the weather report can also help.
This reveals whether smoothness is to be expected.
If there is a warning about lightning ice or freezing rain, the ADAC even advises you to leave your car parked.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at his own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here.