Roadwise States South Carolina Driving lessons Winter driving techniques South Carolina driving lesson · Special Driving Situations
Winter driving techniques A 3-minute lesson from the South Carolina course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Special Driving Situations
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 131, 132, 133 South Carolina winters are usually mild, but snow and ice do happen. Winter conditions call for slower speeds, acceleration, steering and braking.
Know the rule
Bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads tend to freeze first. Even above freezing, wet conditions can leave ice in shady areas or on exposed roads like bridges.
Handbook p. 131 ↗ Know the rule
If you must drive, tire chains or special snow tires are recommended.
Handbook p. 131 ↗ Get the car ready: Keep your windshield and windows clear Use the defroster; test the fan with your hand on the dashboard Load extra weight in the trunk for traction (rear-wheel drive) Keep a full gas tank to prevent condensation that may freeze Handbook p. 131 ↗ On snow and ice: Drive in the tracks of vehicles ahead when possible Test conditions carefully; brake gently to slow or stop Avoid using cruise control Leave extra distance; ice patches can form on bridges when roads are clear Approach intersections with caution Avoid hills; if you must, go slowly at a steady pace with plenty of space Handbook p. 132 ↗ Know the rule
If you stop on a hill in snow or ice, it's extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get going again.
Handbook p. 132 ↗ Stuck in snow: Don't spin your wheels; it digs you in deeper Turn the wheels side to side a few times to push snow away Use a light touch on the gas to ease out Shovel snow from around the wheels and under the car Pour sand, cat litter, gravel or salt in the wheels' path Or try cardboard, newspaper or brush under the wheels Handbook p. 132 ↗ If you start to skid: Take your foot off the accelerator and steer where you want the front to go With ABS, don't pump; apply steady pressure (pulsing is normal) With standard brakes, pump them gently Handbook p. 133 ↗ Know the rule
If possible, don't abandon your vehicle in the roadway.
Handbook p. 133 ↗ Put it into practice
It's 36°F and the road is wet from an overnight rain. Slow down before the shaded overpass ahead. Ice can form there even above freezing, and bridges freeze first.
A useful reminder Skidding: ABS gets steady pressure, while standard brakes get gentle pumping.
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.
Which roadway locations tend to freeze first in winter weather? Busy interstate lanes Roads in direct sunlight Bridges and overpasses Roads near the coast Answer: Bridges and overpasses
Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses, and infrequently traveled roadways because they tend to freeze first.
Handbook p. 131 ↗ It is recommended you avoid using which feature during winter driving conditions? Defroster Tire chains Snow tires Cruise control Answer: Cruise control
Avoid using cruise control in winter driving conditions.
Handbook p. 132 ↗ If your vehicle gets stuck in the snow, you should: Don't spin your wheels Keep accelerating to power out Let some air out of the tires Turn off the engine and wait for help only Answer: Don't spin your wheels
Do not spin your wheels if stuck in snow; this will only dig the vehicle in deeper.
Handbook p. 132 ↗ If your vehicle has ABS and starts to skid in winter conditions, you should: Pump the brakes rapidly Steady brake pressure, no pumping Release the brakes completely and coast Apply the parking brake Answer: Steady brake pressure, no pumping
If you have ABS, do not pump the brakes; apply steady pressure and expect the brakes to pulse.
Handbook p. 133 ↗ If your vehicle has standard (non-ABS) brakes and starts to skid, you should: Apply constant, hard pressure Never touch the brakes at all Pump the brakes gently Use the parking brake Answer: Pump the brakes gently
If you have standard brakes, pump them gently when your vehicle starts to skid.
Handbook p. 133 ↗ Keeping a full tank of gasoline in winter helps prevent: Condensation that may freeze The engine from overheating Your tires from losing pressure Your windshield from fogging Answer: Condensation that may freeze
Keep a full tank of gasoline to prevent condensation within your gas tank, which may freeze.
Handbook p. 132 ↗ Previous lesson Rural road driving Next lesson Towing: hooking up & loading a trailer More in Special Driving Situations About the source Roadwise’s South Carolina course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 131, 132, 133. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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