How to Drive in the Snow

Co-authored by Simon Miyerov

Last Updated: June 1, 2023 References

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Driving during winter weather warnings where roads are snow-covered and slippery isn’t typically recommended to drivers. However, learning the skill is necessary because sometimes driving is unavoidable, especially in areas where inclement weather is more often than rare. Winter snow driving can be dangerous, but knowing how to properly operate a vehicle in this weather will lower the risk of an accident.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Driving and Operating Your Vehicle in Snow

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Clear the windshield, side windows, headlights, and rear brake lights of all snow and ice with an ice scraper and brush before you drive off. Stop the car and clear the windows and lights as needed while driving during snowfall. Don't forget to clear snow off of your number plate, as it is a legal requirement for your number plate to be visible in many places. ^{[1]
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Turn the air conditioning on and set it to the fresh air option to keep the inside window clear of condensation.

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This means you have to have your headlights on when driving during daylight hours too. This makes your vehicle more visible to other motorists whilst it's still snowing.
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Drive slowly while the roads are covered in snow or ice. Drive using the lower gears in a car with a manual gearbox to increase your traction on the road. Do not use the cruise control option and do not attempt to overtake other vehicles.^{[2]
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Simon Miyerov
Driving Instructor

Expert Interview. 4 December 2019.}
- Vehicles need traction in order for the brakes to work properly, which is why slower speeds, gentler turns, and stops are necessary to make traction remain possible.^{[3]
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- Reduce the vehicle’s speed so that you are going below the speed limit, remember it is NOT a target to aim for. Be extremely cautious of how much traction your tires can achieve against the road as you drive.
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Keep the appropriate intervals in between your car and the car ahead of you. Leave at least 2 to 3 car lengths between your car and the one ahead of you. This is the most effective way to deter common rear-end accidents.^{[4]
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Simon Miyerov
Driving Instructor

Expert Interview. 4 December 2019.}
- This will give you enough room to stop and lower the risk of sliding into the car in front of you when driving at a slow speed.
- Driving at a speed over 25 mph (40 km/h) may require leaving more space between the vehicles.
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Avoid making sudden movements while you drive. When you stop, don’t jerk the steering wheel. Instead, touch your brakes gently. Don’t lock brakes on ice either because it might result in losing control and steering of your vehicle.^{[5]
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- Accelerate more gradually than you’re accustomed to. Don’t rev up to the speed limit like you’re used to when the roads are clear, get up to that speed slowly but gradually.
- Decelerate more gradually than you’re accustomed to. Anticipate your stops before you actually make them. Slow down to stop at a much slower rate than usual.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Avoiding Potential Accidents

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Be on the lookout for slippery spots that might be on the road. Ice is common on bridges, even when the rest of the road may be clear, so approach bridges and shaded areas with the proper caution.^{[6]
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Dig loose snow out from under the tires and pour sand or cat litter under the tires to create traction. Gently rock the car to help the tires make contact with the ground, if possible.
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Recover if the rear end of your car begins to skid. If you notice despite the distance and precautions of safe winter driving that the rear end of your car is starting to skid, you have to avoid the hazard as gently as possible.
- Remove your foot from the accelerator if the rear end of the car begins to skid while driving on snow or ice.
- Steer into the skid to stop skidding. So if you're skidding right, steer to the right.
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Recover if the front end of your car starts to skid. Remove your foot from the accelerator if the front end of the car begins to skid. Do not brake whilst skidding.
- Turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the car to turn.
- If you're driving a car with a manual transmission, avoid shifting into neutral—this could cause you to skid. Instead, stay in gear.
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Push the brake pedal gently when you need to stop. If you can avoid stopping altogether, that’d be even better. Gradually slow down your car almost to a complete stop when you are approaching a red light. It might turn green without you even having to stop at all if you time it right.^{[7]
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- If you see multiple cars stopped in front of you, start braking several stopping distances away to avoid colliding into another vehicle accidentally.
- If you notice that your tires have locked up, take your foot off of the brakes completely.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Preparing Your Vehicle Before the Snow Starts

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When temperatures drop, your tire pressure drops in response. Check to see if the air pressure in your tires need to be topped up, especially in cold climates of 30 degrees and below.^{[8]
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Check your actual tires. Traction is always important when operating a vehicle, but becomes even more important to cars in snowy weather. Inspect your tire treads thoroughly to gauge their efficiency.^{[9]
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- Use a penny to help you determine the depth of your tires’ treads. Insert a penny with its head toward the tire tread into the groove. If the back of the penny is covered, your tire tread is in the clear. If you can see the entire back of the coin, it’s time to replace tires.
- Additional signs that you should consider buying new tires include nicks and holes, uneven wear, and bulging sidewalls on the tires.
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Swap your regular tires for snow tires if you have any. Snow tires are better than regular tires because they are made with special materials that stay soft to provide tires with maximum traction in below-freezing temperatures. They also have tread patterns that grip roads covered in snow and ice.^{[10]
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- Install winter tires in sets of fours to maintain the traction, safety, and control of your vehicle. If, or when the weather gets warmer; it is important to swap the tires for your regular tires.^{[11]
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- Carry a set of snow chains for your vehicle while you travel. Although it might not be necessary to install them on a car that has snow tires installed on it, having snow chains are a requirement when passing certain roads throughout the winter season.
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Replace windshield wiper blades. Inspect the blades of your wipers ahead of wintertime to ensure that your wipers will have a quick response to whatever may potentially obstruct your vision while you drive. If your blades don’t sweep across the windshield cleanly or are cracked, replace them immediately.^{[12]
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- Also make sure that your windshield defroster is up to scratch. Replacing your blades will be an insufficient move if your defroster isn’t in working order.
Make sure the fluid levels in your radiator are adequate. Confirm that you have the proper coolant in the car’s system. Check to see that all of the hoses are in good working condition and do not have any obvious indications of wear.^{[13]
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Assess the condition of your battery. Cold weather can deplete an older battery at a much faster rate. Look at the top of the battery for the installation date.^{[14]
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- If the date on the battery is older than two or three years, think about purchasing a new one before winter begins.
- Remove any signs of whitish powder that might have gathered on the terminal connections. Clean away the buildup with equal parts baking soda and warm water solution.
Ensure that your engine is performing at optimal performance level by having a mechanic or auto service. If you’re good with cars, feel free to conduct your own inspection at home. However, do seek professional help if you don't know what you're doing. ^{[15]
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Fit your car with snow chains. Place the snow chain over the tire, holding it at the top and letting it fall evenly over the front of the tire and wheel. Once the chain is evenly and securely placed on the three-quarters of the wheel not touching the road, place the snow chains onto the rest of the tires.^{[16]
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- When the snow chains are on three-quarters of all of the tires, get into your car and drive forward for less than a metre. This will expose the part of the tire that was touching the ground previously.
- Put on the handbrake, get out of the car, and finish securing the remaining chains to the rest of the wheel. Use a closer link to tighten the chains where they close.
- Adding snow chains to your vehicle might be necessary for drivers in some areas, but often times if you have snow tires installed; you can save yourself a little trouble and not have to bother using snow chains at all.

Expert Q&A

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How should I drive if it's snowing and raining at the same time?

Simon Miyerov
Driving Instructor
Simon Miyerov is the President and Driving Instructor for Drive Rite Academy, a driving academy based out of New York City. Simon has over 8 years of driving instruction experience. His mission is to ensure the safety of everyday drivers and continue to make New York a safer and efficient driving environment.

Simon Miyerov

Driving Instructor

Expert Answer

Go extremely slow and leave plenty of space between you and the vehicles around you. Seriously, just leave a ton of space. You need to make sure that you have plenty of time to make adjustments or slow down if someone starts sliding around or slams on their brakes in front of you.

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What if I start to slide?

Community Answer

Do not use your brakes, as they will not work and will only cause you to be more out of control. A good rule of thumb for braking in any slick conditions is to brake early, and do a lot of successive taps, until you're stopped, or slowed down. Back to sliding, you'll almost always want to turn in the direction of the slide which will allow you to stop the fastest, unless that is going to take you into traffic, or over a cliff, instead you'll want to counter steer slightly which can correct the slide and put you straight again. Practice in a parking lot, going 5 to 10 mph with little slides so you know your car better, and always drive in a manner that allows you control over your vehicle.

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Do I use high or low beam lights in snow?

HelpingHand45

Community Answer

Use low beam lights. High beams can distract or blind other drivers, and they will also reflect off the snow participles and make it hard for you to see.

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Tips

Know the type of braking system in your vehicle. Standard brakes require that you pump the brake pedal when the road conditions are slippery. Anti-lock brakes pump automatically and do not work properly when you pump the pedal.

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Always keep a spade in the boot. Cars always get stuck in the snow especially in car parks and on the driveway of your home. So if your car does get stuck, get the spade from the boot, and clear off the snow from your front wheels. Then your car should be able to move forward or backward. This can be applied to ice as well.

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Create a winter safety kit and store it in the vehicle. Make sure the kit includes sand for traction, a woolly blanket, and emergency non-perishable food. Always have a hat, gloves, and boots and store them in the vehicle, in case of an emergency. You'll never know when you might need them.

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Warnings

A four-wheel-drive vehicle is not able to drive faster on icy roads. Use the same cautions as you would when driving a front or rear wheel car to stay safe during snowy conditions. The four-wheel-drive feature is for getting unstuck. Remember that a four-wheel-drive vehicle will not stop much better than an ordinary car, because every car has four-wheel brakes.

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Slow down when crossing bridges and overpasses. Ice builds up quickly on these structures and stays frozen longer because cold air can pass underneath.

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