A 4-minute lesson from the Maine course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Maine winters call for extra skill. On snow and ice, the keys are slower speeds, gentler stops and turns, and much more following distance. Know how to steer out of a skid and how to survive being stuck.
Before bad weather hits:
Get a tune-up so the car runs well and gets the best fuel efficiency
Make sure your tires are in good condition, or put on snow tires
Have a mechanic check antifreeze, water hoses, exhaust, battery charge and brakes
Use oil of sufficient weight for winter and keep battery terminals clean
A cold engine warms faster driven than idling. In extreme cold, drive at slower speeds for a few miles. Test the brakes occasionally at low speed to judge how slippery the road is, and never slam on the brakes.
If you can't control the car on a slippery surface, look for something to stop you: get a wheel onto dry pavement or the shoulder, or slowly edge into a snowbank or bushes.
When stopping on ice or snow, pump the brakes very gently and let up at the first hint of slipping. Don't release the clutch or shift out of drive until nearly stopped. With anti-lock brakes, just press firmly.
If you get stuck, don't spin your wheels. Keep them straight, shovel snow away, and use traction mats, sand or cat litter. If you still can't get out, rock the car between reverse and drive.
Your rear end slides right on an icy curve. Get off the brake, steer where you want the front to go, and as the car straightens, bring the wheel back so you don't swing into a new skid.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
How much farther can it take to stop on snow or ice compared to dry pavement?
About twice as far
3 to 12 times as far
1.5 to 2 times as far
20 to 30 times as far
Answer: 3 to 12 times as far
On snow or ice it takes three to twelve times as much distance to stop as on dry pavement.