To measure your following distance, pick a fixed point ahead of the vehicle you’re following. Street signs work best for this. Keep an eye on the car ahead, and start counting once its nose crosses the fixed point you chose. Count until the nose of your car crosses this same point. If you’re in the 8-10 range, you’ll know you’re maintaining a safe distance. Not all icy conditions need the same stopping distance. At 0° Fahrenheit (-18° Celsius), you need twice as much stopping distance as you would at 32° Fahrenheit (0° Celsius). [2] X Research source
If you live in a warmer climate, but you’re concerned about icy roads, you should at least get all-season tires. [3] X Research source
This is very similar to the grip many race car drivers use. [5] X Research source
Using threshold or squeeze braking allows the car to slow down as much as possible without the wheels locking. Check your owner’s manual or ask your mechanic if your car has ABS. While most modern vehicles have ABS, older cars don’t. [8] X Research source
If you’re worried about how you’ll react in an emergency situation, you can try your hand at driving on ice at certain driving schools. [9] X Research source
Avoid slamming the brakes. This will cause the wheels to lock and your car is likely to lose traction and start skidding. [10] X Research source
You’ll feel feedback in the brake pedal, a certain threshold as you brake. This is when you can get the most deceleration out of your brakes; if you go past this your wheels will lock and you’ll lose traction. [11] X Research source
If your car has front wheel drive, it will usually go into a front skid, with the car’s nose skidding away from the direction you want to go. With rear wheel drive vehicles, the back of the car will start skidding first. [12] X Research source
