What is the maximum driving speed on icy and snowy roads?
2 Answers
In urban areas, the speed should be controlled at around 10 kilometers per hour, while on suburban roads, it should not exceed 15 kilometers per hour, depending on road and traffic conditions. Here are some relevant tips: 1. Avoid sudden steering on icy roads: When turning, first reduce speed, appropriately increase the turning radius, and steer slowly. Hold the steering wheel with both hands and operate smoothly and gently to prevent skidding. This is because sharp steering causes sudden lateral displacement of the wheels, increasing resistance on the front wheels and causing the rear of the vehicle to swing outward due to inertia. 2. Minimize the use of foot brakes when driving on icy roads: Since coasting in neutral or with the engine off is not allowed on icy surfaces, when decelerating or stopping, first use engine braking to slow down, rapidly reducing engine speed and forcing the drive wheels to slow down. This applies to all vehicles, whether equipped with ABS anti-lock braking systems or not.
During my last self-driving trip in the north when encountering heavy snow that blocked the roads, my experience is that driving speed on snowy roads entirely depends on road condition feedback. A road where you can normally drive at 40km/h in urban areas should be reduced to below 20km/h when there's snow and ice. The key is to feel the tire grip—if the ABS frequently activates when lightly braking, it means the current speed is too dangerous. I usually increase the following distance to more than three times that on dry roads, especially being extra cautious on bridges or shaded sections where black ice can instantly make the car lose control. If the rearview mirror shows nothing but a white blur, making it hard to even see the taillights of the car ahead, then forget about others honking—just slow down honestly to prioritize safety.
