Winter Driving Accidents Safety Bulletin

The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (OHSEM) reminds motorists that when temperatures reach at or just above 32‐degrees, a thin layer of water on the roads and highways can turn to slick ice, making for dangerous driving conditions.

• Know your vehicle and how it operates. Not all cars respond the same to slippery roads. Knowing how to handle your vehicle and how it responds in various weather conditions is important.
• Always maintain a good distance from vehicles in front of you.
• The most important thing to remember when driving on slick roads is that you must travel, steer and brake more slowly than usual.
• The distance needed to stop on ice is twice as long as that you would need to brake under normal driving circumstances. This means you should keep at least a three‐car distance from the vehicle directly in front of you.   

• Intersections - Slow down before reaching an intersection. Scan all directions for cars and pedestrians.
• Curves - Reduce speed before entering a curve.
• Bridges – Ice forms on bridges and freeways so reduce speed and use precaution.
• Never brake while driving on ice. If you are approaching a patch of ice, brake during your approach. Applying pressure to your brakes while on ice will only throw you into a skid.
• Finally, always buckle up and use extra caution when driving in slick or icy conditions.