The Three Essential Driving Skills to Practice This Winter

It may be tempting to let teen drivers take a break from practicing their on-the-road skills when the roads are covered in ice and slush. But the truth is: Wintertime may be the best time to get teens behind the wheel. It’s safest for teen drivers to drive in these conditions under the guidance of a parent or professional driving instructor.

Why? Consider these three skills that all drivers need in bad weather:

1. Accelerating, Slowing Down, and Stopping Safely

   “Driving too fast for conditions” is one of the leading causes of fatal car crashes. Teen drivers need to understand how to gauge a safe speed for different weather conditions. Every car behaves differently in the snow. It can help to get a feel for icy roads by practicing stopping, starting, and turning in a large, empty parking lot.

2. Keeping a Safe Following Distance

   Cars take longer to come to a complete stop in slippery conditions. Young drivers who are used to operating a car on dry roads need to learn to adjust their stopping distance in poor weather. While a safe stopping distance in good weather is 3 seconds, rainy or icy weather can increase this to 5 or 10 seconds.

3. Controlling a Skidding Vehicle

   Even the most experienced drivers can skid on icy roads. New drivers may fail to recognize they are skidding or panic and overcorrect when it happens, impairing their ability to maintain control of the vehicle.

   The best way to avoid skidding is to slow down and drive at an appropriate speed for road conditions. Slow down before entering a curve. Where there is ice, take things smoothly and carefully. Ensure you have a safe opening before making a right or left turn onto an icy road, just in case you skid mid-turn. Additionally, keep your tires properly inflated, especially during the winter when the cold air can affect the pressure.

   To keep control during a skid, ease off the pedals. Slow the car down naturally, not using the brakes — they won’t work until you regain traction. Continue to look and steer in the direction you intend to travel. Avoid oversteering or accelerating.

Be Prepared

Young drivers also need to learn basic readiness and maintenance skills for the cold weather. Help them create a winter car emergency kit and stock their trunk with an ice scraper, broom, and shovel. Show them how to check their car’s tire pressure, lights, windshield wipers, and cooling system, and how to refill de-icing wiper fluid. Their car should also have a professional tune-up before cold weather sets in, to ensure there are no hidden problems that could become dangerous in adverse weather.

References:

1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Winter weather driving tips,” https://www.nhtsa.gov/winter-driving-tips.

2. Insurance Information Institute. “Driving in winter? Be prepared and stay safe,” https://www.iii.org/article/winter-driving.

3. Driving Test Tips. “How to control a skidding car,” https://web.archive.org/web/20250325025050/https:/www.drivingtesttips.biz/driving-tips/how-to-control-a-skidding-car.html.