How To Drive In Freezing Rain

Driving In Freezing Rain 

Any winter driver knows it can be dangerous to drive in freezing rain. Freezing rain occurs when snow melts as it falls, turns into rain, and then refreezes upon hitting the ground or another cold surface. This creates a layer of ice over the road. Even a thin layer of ice creates slippery conditions. While car insurance provides financial protection in the event of a loss, it's better to avoid a collision in the first place. This article will teach you how to drive in freezing rain to minimize the chances of an accident. 

Why Is Freezing Rain Dangerous? 

Driving in freezing rain is dangerous due to reduced friction, its ability to go unnoticed, and how hard it is to remove. Trying to brake on an icy road can take longer than you might think, leading to increased braking distance and skidding. Making a sharp turn or braking hard can cause the driver to lose control. 

Another reason freezing rain can be dangerous is its subtlety. A thin layer of freezing rain is often known as 'black ice' since the ice might not be seen over the road surface. As a result, someone can be oblivious to the slick conditions, increasing the likelihood of a collision. 

Freezing rain is also harder to remove than snow. Snow plows and other machines can easily clear snow out of the way, making driving much less of an issue. Freezing rain, on the other hand, can't be shoved away. The only way to remove it is for it to melt. While things like salt can help, even this will take a while, as salt doesn't directly cause ice to melt; it just lowers the freezing point for the ice.  For these reasons, driving with extreme caution in freezing rain is essential. 

How To Drive Safely In Freezing Rain 

Driving safely in freezing rain depends on preparation before you leave and careful driving. You can prepare your car for freezing rain by ensuring it's cleaned off, properly stocked, and has winter tires. There are also several ways you can drive more cautiously. Below are some tips that will help you drive safely in freezing rain. 

1. Use Winter Tires 

Winter tires handle colder conditions better than all-season tires. They have more flexible rubber, slits that provide traction, and deeper treads. These differences allow them to keep a better grip on the ground in winter conditions, meaning they will skid less and stop quicker. Winter tires generally become more effective than standard all-season tires at 7°C. Also, switching to winter tires early enough can make you eligible for a winter tire insurance discount, saving you some extra money. 

2. Prepare An Emergency Kit 

There are plenty of ways freezing rain can leave you temporarily stranded. Even if you’re not involved in a collision, you might have your battery damaged, simply become stuck, or have a tire damaged in an event like a skid. If this happens, you will need a winter car emergency kit. The items in this kit can help you and any passengers get out of a bad situation or at least help you call for help and hunker down until it arrives. Some items to include in this kit are: 

• A first-aid kit. 
• A shovel. 
• A jack and spare tire. 
• Non-perishable food and water. 
• Thicker clothes and blankets. 
• A phone or other way to contact people. 

Please note that these are not the only items to include in a winter car emergency kit. There are certainly more, and the more compact things you can store in your vehicle, the better. 

3. Ensure Your Windshield Wipers Work Properly 

Anyone who knows what it's like to drive in freezing rain knows windshield wipers are especially helpful, even more valuable than in regular rain. Freezing rain can make it much more difficult to see around you if you don't have your wipers washing it away whenever possible. 

During warmer months, you can test them by placing some water on the windshield and then using them to ensure they remove the water without making streaks. In colder weather, clearing your windshield off as quickly as possible is best, as it helps you avoid having the wipers stuck to the glass. You can also stop your windshield wipers from breaking by grabbing them gently and lifting them off the windshield. This will un-stick them if they are frozen to the windshield, so they won't snap when moving. You can also lift the wipers before a freezing rainstorm to ensure that they don’t get stuck during the storm.  

If you see damage on the wipers at any point, replace them as soon as possible. 

4. Drive To The Road Conditions 

You should be cautious when driving in freezing rain, as in other bad weather. Sometimes, this means going slower, giving you more time to react if you see trouble ahead. It's also common for people to use their low beams if visibility is poor. Sometimes, it's a combination of the two. If there is a freezing rain warning or other severe weather alert, your local weather station will likely have specific driving advice. In any bad weather, drive more cautiously and pay extra attention to the road. This includes minimizing distractions, so turning off the radio and avoiding conversations with passengers might be best. Sometimes, it also means leaving early. 

5. Accelerate And Brake More Gradually 

Any time you change your speed when you drive in freezing rain, you might skid. You can minimize the odds of something going wrong by making speed changes less sudden. Slamming on your brakes is very dangerous on slippery roads, and putting the pedal to the metal can also cause you to lose control. For this reason, it is good to start braking early if you are coming up on a red light, yellow light, or a stop sign. 

6. Clean Off Your Car So You Can See 

We've already mentioned how cleaning off your windshield can increase visibility when you drive in freezing rain. However, something that can set you back is if snow falls from the roof onto your windshield or any other window. Snow from your hood can also get blown onto your windshield, blinding you. Remember that when warming up your car, it's always best to clear all snow and ice off your roof, hood, trunk, windows, and mirrors. This will make it so that you can see the entire time, which you can take for granted when you drive in freezing rain. 

7. Ensure You're Visible To Others 

It's important to remember that if you have difficulty seeing in harsh conditions, so does everyone else. This makes you and your vehicle harder to see, creating a situation just as dangerous as you not seeing them. Here are some ways to remain visible to others when you drive in freezing rain: 

• Avoid driving in someone else's blind spot. 
• Have your low beams on. 
• Stay in the correct lane. 
• Avoid cutting off other drivers. 
• Use your horn if needed. 

Please also note that brighter vehicles are more visible in low-visibility situations. White vehicles might not be visible in blizzards, and darker vehicles might be hard to see at night in poor conditions.  

8. Avoid Passing Snow Plows 

Snow plows, salt trucks, and other road maintenance vehicles are valuable in cold temperatures, as they clear snow accumulations, making driving safer. However, being stuck behind one can test someone's patience. Snow plows, while a necessary part of winter, are slow, meaning you must slow down even more than usual when there's one ahead of you. However, passing a snow plow has many dangers. You will likely enter its huge blind spot, and passing the snow plow can take a while, leaving you open to collisions with another vehicle while you pass them. In addition, the road ahead of the plow will likely have much worse conditions than the road behind it. Play it safe and wait patiently behind a snow plow, especially when you drive in freezing rain. 

9. Give Other Drivers Space 

Everybody hates it when someone tailgates (follows too close) behind them. However, driving in freezing rain makes this driving habit especially dangerous. Tailgating gives the car in the back very little time to take action if the driver in front suddenly slows down or stops. Creating extra distance between yourself and the car in front of you gives you more time to slow down or take evasive maneuvers when this occurs. 

10. Avoid Cruise Control 

Cruise control is a feature on a few vehicles that lets them maintain a specific speed automatically. If you're not very confident in your driving abilities, it might feel safer to do this, as you might think it lowers the odds of making a dangerous mistake. However, in winter weather, this line of thinking is false. When you drive in freezing rain, you need to be able to react quickly to a changing situation. While cruise control technology is impressive, it still has difficulty responding to dangerous and unusual situations. It's best to ensure you always have complete control of the vehicle to respond quickly in an emergency. 

11. Learn How To Gain Control When Skidding 

A skid happens when your vehicle's wheels lose traction with the ground, causing the vehicle to slip and slide. Skids are common when you drive in freezing rain. If you do get into a skid, there are some actions you can take. 

There are multiple types of skids: front-wheel skids and rear-wheel skids. Regardless of the type of skid you are in, it is important not to panic. Panicking can cause you to make a mistake. 

General advice is to ease off the pedal you are on (whether it's the gas or the brake) and switch to neutral if you have an automatic or use the clutch if you have a manual transmission. Once you regain control, gently turn in the direction you want to go. However, this advice is not universal, so it's best to research how to handle it for your particular vehicle before you head out. 

When In Doubt Be Cautious 

One universal rule when you drive in freezing rain is to be cautious. If you're ever in a situation where you face a risk and have a choice between taking a chance and being safe, it's best to play it safe.