What are the main impacts of icy and snowy roads on driving safety?

[McVanessa]

On icy and snowy roads, the friction coefficient between car tires and the ground is very low, making vehicle control quite difficult. Improper operation can cause the vehicle to skid or even spin, posing a threat to both the vehicle and passengers. Below is an introduction to the main impacts of icy and snowy roads on driving safety: Causes: When driving on icy or snowy roads, the friction coefficient between car tires and the ground is very low, making vehicle control quite difficult. Improper operation can cause the vehicle to skid or even spin, posing a threat to both the vehicle and passengers. Measures: On icy and snowy roads, it is advisable to drive along the tracks left by preceding vehicles as much as possible. Avoid sudden deceleration, sharp turns, and emergency braking. Shift gears more frequently and brake less. If overtaking is necessary, ensure there is sufficient road width and time for overtaking. Speed must be controlled, generally not exceeding 20 kilometers per hour on icy and snowy roads.

[DiKyle]

Having driven for over 30 years, the biggest issue with icy roads is how incredibly slippery they are. The moment your wheels touch the surface, they start skidding, and even the brakes lose effectiveness. The stopping distance can be twice as long as usual, making it impossible to halt in emergencies. Once on a winter highway with icy pavement, my car began fishtailing with just a light tap on the brakes—fortunately, I steadied the steering wheel and avoided an accident. Visibility is another challenge: windshields icing up or fogging waste precious time to clear, and frozen wipers are even worse. Cars struggle with wheel spin uphill, lose control more easily downhill, and turns become far riskier. Prevention means driving slowly and maintaining long following distances. Snow tires help significantly; always check your vehicle before cold waves, ensuring wipers and brakes function properly. The psychological toll is heavy too—excessive tension while driving increases error risks. Learning anti-skid driving techniques proves highly practical.

[OJayla]

The most nerve-wracking aspect of driving on icy roads is the high risk of losing control. Icy surfaces drastically reduce tire friction coefficients – while normal braking from 60 km/h may take 40 meters, on snow/ice it could require over 100 meters to stop. Even slightly aggressive overtaking or turning can induce skidding; ABS and ESP systems often fail to respond effectively under such conditions. Visibility suffers too – glare from icy surfaces strains the eyes, while foggy windshields obscure the road ahead, compounded by poor visibility during snowfall. Reduced vehicle stability and exaggerated weight transfer worsen skidding; I once nearly hit a tree during a turn in freezing rain. Additional impacts include decreased fuel efficiency and higher cold-start fuel consumption – pre-warming the engine and using winter tires for better traction are recommended. Statistics show accident rates double in snowy conditions, so adopt slower speeds, double following distances, and avoid driving during peak freezing periods at dawn/dusk.

[SanKai]

As a parent, icy and snowy roads make me fear for my child's safety on the way to school. The road surface is extremely slippery, stepping on the brakes feels like dancing on ice, the wheels don't obey, and I worry about not being able to stop in time and hurting my family. I remember once after snow, while taking my child to school, the car slightly skidded on a turn, and my child screamed; the windshield icing up and being slow to clear often led to the embarrassment of being late for school. Poor visibility increases the risk, such as when the wipers freeze, making it hard to defog while driving. The probability of accidents is high, with constant news of snow-related car crashes and frequent casualties. For prevention, I insist on halving the speed and checking road conditions in advance; changing to snow tires is safer, avoiding sudden acceleration and stops. Psychological stress affects operation, so I take deep breaths to stay calm and keep an emergency kit in the car. Safe driving courses have taught techniques, and I practice steering and braking responses regularly.