Driving in Winter
Driving in Winter tests traction management, skid control, and preparation for ice, snow, and cold. The exam expects gentle inputs and recognition that bridges and shaded areas freeze first.
Traction and skids
Reduce speed on snow and ice. Accelerate, steer, and brake gently; sudden inputs break traction. If a drive-wheel skid starts, ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go. Do not use cruise control on slippery roads. Increase following distance to at least double the dry-road gap.
Freezing spots and equipment
Bridges, overpasses, shaded curves, and intersections freeze before open road. Watch for black ice-dark, glossy patches. Use chains when required and know the rules. Keep fuel tanks full to avoid gelling and check tire pressure in cold weather; pressure drops as temperature falls. Carry emergency supplies.
Worked example
You cross a bridge and the rear wheels begin to slide. Reasoning: braking or adding power makes the skid worse. Release the accelerator smoothly, steer where you want to go, and avoid hard braking until traction returns.
Traps
Using cruise control, making sudden corrections, and assuming four-wheel drive or a heavy truck guarantees traction cost marks. Winter driving is about smoothness and space.