Will using neutral help alleviate sliding on ice in order to aid brakes by stopping auto pull in drive?

Question

Auto transmission. Going downhill on ice, car still pulls in drive while brake is being used which causes a problem with stopping and sliding into a skid can occur.

Answer 1

Unless the car is sliding keep it in gear. If it begins to slide with the car in gear and you're not using your brakes then slip it into neutral to take the drive wheels out of the equation and use your service brakes to stop.

Answer 2

Never drive with the gears in neutral or the clutch pedal depressed longer than is needed to shift gears. If you need to react quickly, you may not be able to get the vehicle in gear.

Answer 3

When in the forces we were taught to use the highest gear and to pump the brake to slow down when driving on ice.

Keep off the accelerator.

Answer 4

Never switch gears (automatic car) while the car is moving. Even though technically they say you can, it's better to leave it in drive. When driving on ice, whatever way the car pulls to, turn the steering wheel toward that direction and take your foot off the accelerator. Let the car slow down by itself and letting you regain control if there's enough room. If your car has ABS (anti-lock brakes), step on the brake pedal as usual and hold it firmly (do not pump it), the system will take care of the rest and remember, you can still steer to avoid a collision too. If your car is not equipped with ABS, you must pump the brake pedal quickly and evenly and attempt to steer the car away from trouble. Best advice, when driving on ice, slow down.

Answer 5

Depends on if you have a front or rear wheel drive car... if its front then I'd say you may gain some breaking in neutral but I'm not sure if its enough.

If its rearwheel then yes you gain control and braking performance if you put it neutral.

Answer 6

You have solved one of the mysteries of the universe..lol..yes, when you are going downhill and have to stop at the bottom, bump it up into neutral and gently tap the brakes to slow you down..this only works on a gentle hill..not a steep one. On a steep hill, you will gain speed when you put it into neutral. LIke all driving situations..using common sense is the best answer.

Answer 7

No dont put it in neutral that will give you no control, just shift the car down into 2nd or 1st .

Answer 8

You can't control the car if your wheels are locked up or skidding.  Even if your car is equipped with anti-skid brakes (ABS) the ABS normally doesn't work at speeds less than 5 MPH, so when you come up to a stop in a rear-wheel drive car, it is possible that your front brakes will lock up and the front tires skid on the ice while the automatic transmission will continue to drive your rear wheels, and the car will not stop.  Shifting into neutral at that point will allow you to control the car better, and allow you to come to a complete stop.

Answer 9

As far as i know, when you brake with an automatic transmission, the transmission goes into neutral (or something akin to neutral) so putting the car into neutral while sliding/skidding won't make a difference.