How to drive in snow and ice

A huge winter storm Dumped historic amounts of snowfall in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic over the weekend and into Monday, forcing millions of drivers to face dangerous road conditions.

The storm broke daily snowfall records in Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and West Virginia. In central New York, preliminary 24-hour snow totals topped a staggering 5 feet.

Meanwhile, another winter storm It is forecast to bring a mix of snow and ice to North Texas later this week, possibly bringing up to 6 inches of snow to Dallas.

“Many areas of North Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, will have at least some chance for winter weather,” the National Weather Service said Tuesday. “With cold air already present, a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain is forecast for the southern Plains, which may cause hazardous driving conditions, beginning Wednesday night and continuing into Thursday morning “.

According According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), weather-related car accidents kill more people each year than other major weather events such as tornadoes, heat, hurricanes, lightning, or flooding.

According to data collected between 2007 and 2016, 1.2 million of the 5.8 car accidents that occur each year in the US are caused by poor weather conditions. These weather-related accidents kill an average of 5,376 people annually.

While it’s best to simply avoid traveling when conditions are bad, that’s not an option most people have in their daily lives. The best option? Make sure you are prepared and know how to drive in the snow safely.

Cars drive down Meridian St. during the first major snowfall of 2025, Monday in Indianapolis.

Control winter driving: How to prepare for snow and ice on the roads.

Drive defensively, look for distance from other cars.

Last year, USA TODAY spoke with driving instructor Bill Van Tassel, the driver training program manager at AAA. He explained some of the science behind the most valuable car trips and shared some common driving mistakes.

Van Tassel explained that the tires have much less traction on snow and ice than in dry conditions. That means any sudden movement of the car (stopping, accelerating, or turning) could cause the tires to skid in the snow. Therefore, normal measures may not be able to be taken to avoid a collision and drivers should try to distance themselves from other vehicles.

“It’s good to start with the mindset that there are deadly threats from all directions,” Van Tassel said last year. “(Suppose) other road users are going to take actions that will put you at greater risk… so you need to have a plan to deal with it.”

Here are some tips on how to drive defensively in the snow:

Don’t drive too fast
Keep enough space around the vehicle
Only use driver assistance technology as a backup
look forward
Use gentle actions, such as turning, braking or accelerating.
Avoid driving downhill

Driving in the snow: What to do if you get stuck in your car during a winter storm

Make sure your vehicle is prepared for icy conditions.

Van Tassel said if driving in the snow is necessary, there are a few things that can be done to better plan the trip. First, he said driving in the snow requires a lot of concentration, so he encouraged drivers to be well rested, sober and free of distractions.

Make sure your vehicle is ready by checking the following:

Tires must have good tread and be properly inflated.
Make sure all lights and sensors are working.
Remove snow and dirt from all lights and sensors.
Remove snow and ice from all windows and mirrors.

Pack items in your car for emergencies

When venturing out, you should pack your car with emergency essentials that will help you in case something goes wrong. For example, you could get stuck in the snow and the right tools could help you get unstuck. If you get stuck, emergency preparedness items could help you survive until the snow clears and you can be rescued: