Driving FWD car on Ice?

Question

I'm the MOST responsible driver out of all my friends, yet I drive a 1999 Saturn SL1. Mainly what makes me "better" is that I get a better feel out of the car's physics, and I don't panic like they do in bad situations.

But still, my car is ridiculously slippery. I was going 10mph in a 30mph zone to play it safe, and my car STILL slid and hit somebody who parked their car on the outer loop of a downhill icy road, directly opposite a busy turn off. My car has very bad traction.

I know applying the brake locks the back tires, so the car wants to pivot with the back wheels as the point (on ice...), but my car absolutely needed to slow down more to avoid him, there wasn't enough time to ease off the gas. So I braked + e-braked, and spun the car just enough to not damage my car, and my rear bumper (vs front of car) hit his side door, causing very minimal damage.

Still, if you have room, ease up on gas w/ no brake, and wait to regain traction... But what should I have really done here?

Answer 1

Get new tires! Put some weight in the back. If you know so much about driving and cars you would know these things. Your smart no doubt but you need to understand that just because you have FWD it's still going to slide if it does'nt have any weight. Don't brake like you said. go slow if it's sliding on it's own it's got to be because of the fact there is no weight in the back. Try it. Tactical driving skills I don't think there really is on ice. I've been driving on bad roads for years. Pray!

Answer 2

if you have it, put your car in four-wheel drive. Or get a different car. Or move to somewhere with no ice!

Answer 3

Basically, ice is a pain in the *** to drive on.  Too much of anything will throw you on ice.  Just like when your hydroplaning, you need to get off the brakes and the gas, and allow the tires to regain traction.  If there is no traction, adding anything will have no effect.  Basically, you should have gone slow (which you did), no gas, light brake, and a little steering input.  Basicaly tires only have so much traction.  When you add gass, you take a little away.  When you steer, you take more away, and when you take more away.  Pounding on the brakes will lock your tires and create a situation where you have no traction, and the e-brake caused the only rolling tires to lock.  You can look into studded snow tires, or chains.  There not illegal in winter, you just shoudnt leave them on when there is little or no snow.

Answer 4

Your low gears offer more torque at slower speeds which provides additional traction at the tires. Use your low gears, which is typically listed as Drive 1-2-3 or L, if you have an automatic transmission, in the following instances:

1) When starting to move from a stand still,

2) When approaching a full stop after slowed down,

3) When stuck in the snow, or

4) Anytime you are driving on snow or ice--for instance, in crawling traffic on iced up or a new snow covered roads.

Note: Low gears should only be used when traveling no faster than approximately 15 to 20 mph.

The moment you feel that you have lost control, even if just for a moment, slow down by pumping your brakes a bit and using low gear as needed. You need to be in control at "all" times.