What should you do when you step on a plate of ice with the car

We tell you what you should do if the car hits a sheet of ice, one of the most dangerous situations you can find driving in winter.

In the winter time, driving, there is much talk about what to do in case of snow, but the truth is that the cold brings with it an element much more dangerous than this: ice. we tell you what should you do if the car hits a plate of ice.

First of all, it should be noted that in order for a board the outside temperature must be below three degrees, which is the level of frost and, in this case, most cars usually warn with an acoustic signal or by displaying a message on the on-board computer.

Given the danger involved in driving in conditions of very cold, with snow and/or ice, the first recommendation is that, if you can, do not take the car. If you can delay the trip, delay it, to avoid problems and, if possible, travel in the middle of the day, when the temperature is higher and thus it is more likely that the ice sheets have disappeared.

If you have no choice but to hit the road, we’ll give you a few tips on how to stay current in case you’re unlucky enough to go through one.

You have to bear in mind that it is normal that you do not even see the plate before passing through it (especially if it is black ice), so it will catch you unexpectedly and it is normal that you react hastily, something that you should avoid at all costs.

To begin with, when there frost, you must drive more prudently and with extreme caution: drive at a lower speed than usual, drive smoothly, leave an even greater safety distance than you are used to (with ice braking is much longer), etc.

Despite all these precautions, stepping on a sheet of ice does not depend on you and, when it happens, you must do the following:

• Do not brake or accelerate, the tires will not have grip and it will not do any good
• Keep your hands steady on the wheel, do not try to countersteer abruptly because it can even be counterproductive
• When leaving the plate, the ideal is that the wheels are straight and, once off the ice, that is when the direction is corrected

Logically, following these steps is much easier when the plate is on a line, since, as a general rule, even if the car “goes long” it will be following the trajectory of the road and will remain more or less oriented with respect to it, so repositioning it and regaining control will be easier.

The thing is very different if the ice sheet is on a curve, because by inertia the vehicle will tend to go towards the outside of it, having much less physical space to be able to redirect it and it is more likely that there will be an accident.

In that case, it is more advisable to try to gently turn the wheels to try to channel the car and thus regain control sooner, although it will still be difficult to get out of the situation unscathed.

Another aspect to take into account is that in areas such as the bottom of bridges or other places where in the shade it is easier for plaques to form, so pay special attention to them.

It should also be borne in mind that, although in a snowfall the ruts are the safest place to circulate, if ice has already formed on them they are the most dangerous area, so it is preferable to go where the nine has not yet crushed and compacted.

This article was published in Autobild by Mario Herráez.