If you are a city dweller, you may have got used to a slick, smooth urban road management scheme which ensures that at the first sign there is a risk of ice or snow the gritting trucks are out and the roads are treated so well they present little risk of a skidding hazard. If you're a country bumpkin, you will know only too well that icy roads present a real risk unless they are treated with the utmost care and respect.

The 'easiest' kind of icy road to deal with is the road that has ice you can see in white streaks and patches. The worst is 'black' ice which is invisible and which may form when the air temperature may seem to be relatively temperate but when the road temperature remains at or below zero degrees Celsius (32 Fahrenheit). Many modern cars are equipped with an external thermometer and warning sign and in cold weather you should ensure you pay heed to this as a guide to the possibility of icy conditions forming.

If you can see or even if you just suspect you may be driving on an icy road, the first thing to do is to slow down. If you are unfortunate enough to skid, then the slower you are travelling the better chance you have of controlling the skid before you end up sliding off the road into a ditch or worse, another car, pedestrian or piece of street furniture.

Don't assume that because you are driving a new, computerized, 'safe' car with ABS braking and cruise control etc. that you are immune from getting into trouble on icy roads. No matter how well constructed and 'safe' your car may be, it cannot drive itself and will only perform as safely as its driver will allow.

If the road you are travelling on is relatively busy, there will be tyre tracks from cars which have travelled before you. Try to stay in those tracks as much as possible. That part of the road will have thawed with the heat of previous tyres and will be less susceptible to icing over quickly.

If you've been driving since early morning, you may have seen the ice melting as the morning progresses and feel that you are safe. But remember that those parts of the road which are sheltered by large trees or bushes may not have thawed and will present special danger, particularly on bends in the road. Be vigilant at all times and don't imagine you are safe just because the sun is shining.

Finally, know how to handle a skid should you find yourself in that unfortunate situation. If you can afford it, take some lessons on a skid pan with a professional driving instructor. You can read about skid control at Helium here and should do so if you are in any doubt that you may not be able to handle icy road conditions. The last piece of advice about driving on icy roads is the simplest. If you can possibly avoid driving when you know that road conditions are icy, don't drive!

Learn more about this author, Colin Morley.
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