The advice that is usually considered best in relation to driving and avoiding any problems is to not drive at all if it can be somehow avoided. If you think that you really need to go somewhere, you should plan ahead of time and should go out when the excess snow has been removed. You should also make sure that your car is mechanically fit and ready to be driven in the severe weather. Above all, you should be practiced and skilled enough to handle the car on the road in severe weather conditions.

In case some problem occurs, you should be well prepared and have tools and equipment such as a snow shovel, flashlight, first aid supplies, scraper, abrasive material (for example sand or salt), warming devices, tow chains and tyre chains with you.

In order to be safe on icy roads, there are some points that you should always keep in mind. When the roads are icy, the distance between your car and that ahead of you should be twice the usual distance. The brakes should be applied gently so that the car doesn’t skid. The windshield and the lights should be kept clean. When visibility is low, you should turn on your car’s lights so that the other motorists on the road can see them.

On icy roads, cruise control should not be used and you should keep the gears low to keep traction - especially if you’re driving up a hill. You should try not to pass by snow plows and sanding trucks because their driver’s visibility is limited, and the conditions of the road ahead of them can be worse than what it was at the back.

There are some areas where you should be extra careful while driving. These are bridges and overpasses. In addition, you should also try not to get on roads that are infrequently used while driving because the conditions on these roads are likely to be worse. You should remain careful at all times, and shouldn’t consider your vehicle capable of handling all kinds of situations. Front-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles are both subject to risk on the road in winter and snow.

For drivers who are not very practiced in winter driving, it is best to do a driving course so that you become skilled enough to handle the car properly in case your car skids, or anything else happens. You should also watch out for areas on the road that are black and shiny. This is known as frost, and due to this your car can lose traction. In case your vehicle crosses an area like this, you should be ready to shift gear to neutral, and step on the clutch. If your car gets stuck, don’t try to spin the wheels. Rather, the wheels should be moved from side to side so that the snow can be pushed away. You can also pour some abrasive material to help get traction. If you get stranded, you should not leave the place until help arrives.