The 3 Rules of Ice Driving. If you must drive during the freeze, follow these three rules to keep control of your vehicle:
1. The “Egg Shell” Rule: Pretend there is a raw egg between your foot and the pedals. Accelerate and brake as if you don’t want to break that egg. Sudden movements break traction; smooth movements keep you on the road.
2. Steer INTO the Slide. It feels counterintuitive, but if your back wheels slide left, steer left. If they slide right, steer right. This helps your tires regain grip and straightens the car out. Whatever you do—do NOT slam the brakes.
3. Increase Your Following Distance by 3x. On dry pavement, you need 3 seconds of space. On ice, you need 8 to 10 seconds. If the car in front of you spins out, you need enough room to safely maneuver around it without braking hard.
What to do if you are involved in a crash:
- Stay Calm: Check for injuries first.
- Move to Safety: If the car is drivable, get to the shoulder. If not, stay inside with seatbelts ON until help arrives (other cars may slide into you).
- Document: Take photos of the scene, the ice, and the vehicles.
- Call Herbert Trial Law: Once you are safe and have called 911, call us. Insurance companies play games with weather-related accidents—we don’t.
When you’re settled, we’re here to help. You can reach us at (839) 529-9377 or click the number to initiate a direct call.