How to Drive in Snow and Stay Safe During Winter Trips

The only people who actually drive in snow are the ones who absolutely have to. Sure, snow is one of nature's most amazing creations, and it's wonderful to look at. However, if you have to drive on snow-covered roads, you'll start to detest snow and winter in general pretty soon. Still, driving in snow ain't all that bad.

After all, we're here to help you overcome the most difficult challenges, prepare your vehicle for winter conditions, and most importantly, avoid potential accidents. That said, you'll learn everything you need to know about how to drive in snow. And, let's not kid ourselves, you're going to hate every second of it, but at least you won't have any major difficulties driving on snow or even ice, for that matter. So, let's get to it then.

How to Drive in Snow?

Driving in snow is no rocket science, or so people say. However, even the most experienced drivers' skills have been put to the test in snowy conditions, and a lot of them have failed. The thing is that you think you know what you're up against, but the reality is that you can never truly know what to expect. So, what can you do? Simply put, don't rush or take unnecessary risks. Your confidence should be born from proper driving techniques, not ignorance.

Furthermore, take things slow and one step at a time, and if you find yourself in a tricky situation, don't panic. If you do, then a tricky situation can easily turn into a potential accident. In other words, don't slam on the brakes and don't turn your steering wheel like it's on fire. Try to remain calm and take control of the situation. At the very least, you'll be able to minimize the damage and the consequences.

Understand Snowy Road Conditions

Snow-covered roads are almost certainly hiding more potential dangers underneath. You never know if there's a thick layer of ice below the snow, or if there's a pothole somewhere ready to bust your car if you drive too fast. Understanding that snowy road conditions hide unseen secrets will keep you vigilant and smart while you drive.

For example, the so-called black ice or clear ice can trick even the most experienced drivers. As the name suggests, black ice is a thin glaze of ice that covers the road, but the ice itself is not black; it's actually transparent, which is why it seems that it's the same color as the road. It can easily deceive you that the road is clear when it's anything but.

Moreover, a snow flurry can quickly turn into a heavy snowfall, which greatly impedes visibility, so if you're driving too fast, you may end up stuck in a ditch somewhere or worse. The point in fact is that snowy road conditions are never what they seem to be. There's always some factor that can influence your vehicle's traction and handling in a negative way, especially if you're not careful enough and alert to changing weather conditions.

Preparing Your Vehicle for Snow

Mother Nature can be a force to be reckoned with, especially during winter. One day, you're experiencing mildly cold temperature and partially sunny weather, but come evening, a heavy blizzard hits, covering everything in ice and snow come morning. In other words, winter weather can be quite harsh and unpredictable, which is why you should adequately prepare your vehicle for snow. That said, here are a couple of things you should do.

• Clean any ice and snow that covered your car and do so thoroughly. 
• Check if your tires are properly inflated, because if they're not, you'll lose valuable traction on snow-covered roads.
• Check your windshield wipers if they're stuck or frozen. The last thing you want is for your windshield to be covered in snow while you drive.
• Check vehicle fluids and fuel to ensure there's enough of everything. A vehicle cannot drive for long if it runs out of engine oil, for example. 
• Check brakes and lights to ensure everything is working properly.
• Lastly, don't forget antifreeze. Add more if need be, and always keep it on yourself in case of emergency.

Once you've checked everything and made sure all is in order, don't forget to warm up your vehicle before you hit the road. It only takes a couple of minutes for the engine to reach a favorable working temperature, and that can mean the difference between driving safely and being stuck in the middle of the road. Also, it won't hurt to bring along a winter emergency kit just in case, as you never know if something may go astray while you're on the road.

Basic Snow Driving Techniques

Now we get to the thick of it, which is driving on snow using reliable techniques. As mentioned before, driving on snow-covered roads isn't that much difficult, but it's not exactly enjoyable either. As long as you keep your cool and drive properly, you have nothing to worry about. That said, the most basic technique for driving in snow is to take it slow.

What that means is that you should accelerate, brake, and steer as gently as possible. So, no sudden moves, just look at how the vehicle behaves and act appropriately to retain control of your car. Also, while you're driving on the road, make sure to maintain a greater following distance from the cars in front of you.

The main reason is that your vehicle's stopping power is greatly reduced on snowy roads. In other words, even if you hit the brakes and your car has excellent winter tires, it will still take your vehicle quite a distance before it comes to a full stop. If you're too close to the car in front of you, you'll most likely slam into it despite braking on time.

Last but certainly not least, always drive in lower gears if the road is covered with lots of snow. Lower gears exert more power from the engine, which means better traction that will allow your car to plough through the snow, slowly but surely.

Handling Skids

Skidding is quite a common occurrence for drivers on snowy roads, especially if the snow has begun to melt and has now turned into a nasty slush. Similar to hydroplaning, skidding occurs when the tires lose contact with the road surface due to snow, ice, or slush.

Since there's no traction anymore, the vehicle begins to skid across the road. The severity of skidding depends on how fast you're driving or whether or not you took that turn a bit sharper than you should've. In any event, skidding is no joke, but if you know what you're doing, you can safely get out of this tight spot.

That said, there are two types of skidding: understeering, which occurs in vehicles with front-wheel drive and oversteering, which occurs in vehicles with rear-wheel drive. Let's examine them both in more detail.

• Understeering - Otherwise known as front-wheel skid, understeering happens when you slam the brakes or turn a corner too fast, which results in the wheels locking up. In such cases, the vehicle will continue to skid forward, and no matter the urge to steer in another direction, don't do it. Just let the vehicle move and gently apply the brakes until the car stops. Steering won't mean anything in this scenario because the tires have no contact with the road. 
• Oversteering - Also known as rear-wheel skid, oversteering occurs when the rear wheels lose traction, which will make the vehicle skid in one direction. For instance, if you take a sharp left corner, the vehicle will start to skid to the left. In that case, you must also steer in the direction of the skid to counter the effect and stabilize the car. Just make sure you do so carefully, or your efforts will be in vain.

Of course, these situations apply to vehicles without ABS installed. That said, every car made in the previous 15 to 20 years is equipped with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System). What that means is that ABS prevents wheels from locking up completely, which means you'll be able to steer while hitting the brakes during a skid, allowing you to both control and bring the car to a stop, avoiding accidents in the process.

Navigating Hills and Curves

Driving uphill, downhill, and around the bends presents a unique challenge of its own in snowy conditions. It's not enough that snow and ice are troublesome enough; now you need gravity and inertia to spice things up additionally. Well, as challenging as it all may be, there's always a way to get through without complications.

If you're driving uphill, for instance, use lower gears for more power and maintain a steady momentum until you reach the top. As long as you don't brake or steer suddenly, you should be fine. The same goes for going downhill, only this time let the engine do the braking.

Just shift into a lower gear and take your foot off the gas, and the engine will do the rest while you gently steer the vehicle in the right direction. As for the curves and corners, the best thing you can do to overcome this challenge seamlessly is to slow down before turning. This is often more than enough to avoid any potential accidents or other issues.

Using Snow Tires and Chains

Snow or winter tires are specifically designed for harsh winter road conditions, and they can be of great help in regions with frequent heavy snowfalls and freezing temperatures. If you have such tires equipped on your car, it will be much easier to drive in snow and through it. The main reason is that these types of tires provide better traction in snowy conditions.

Moreover, their rubber compound remains flexible even in extremely low temperatures, allowing the tire to grip the road without any trouble, unlike all season tires that can provide limited traction, but only in light winter conditions. Therefore, if you haven't got a hold of snow tires yet, you'd better start looking up the best winter tires for 2025/2026 season before you miss the opportunity to do so. Still, even winter tires can only do so much to spite the harsh winter conditions.

Sometimes, you need the good ol' chains to get to where you need to go. This is especially true for roads where snow has been falling heavily for several days and road services simply can't keep up with everything that's going on. If you encounter such a situation, tire chains will surely save the day, just don't forget to remove them once you pass the snowy obstacles and reach more favorable road conditions.

Emergency Situations in Winter Conditions

No matter how good a driver you are or how much experience you have regarding driving in winter conditions, sooner or later, you may end up stranded somewhere. It doesn't have to be your fault at all. It could be a mechanical problem with your car or an inexperienced driver who pushes you off the road by accident.

Either way, if and when you get stranded, you should know what to do. In most cases, calling a tow truck should get you out of the pinch. However, depending on how severe winter conditions may be, towing may not be an option. In that case, you should have an emergency kit with you to help you get through until you think of a solution.

The most essential items you should have in that kit include spare warm clothes, a flashlight, food and water, phone charger, and anything else you think you might need in an emergency. As long as you don't panic, you'll be able to get out of any troublesome situation safely.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to drive in snow isn't as bad as it seems to be. Sure, it's not as enjoyable as it should be, but it doesn't have to be a strain either. The key is to know how to prepare both yourself and your vehicle for the upcoming trip. After that, all you need is the right technique and a monumental amount of patience. After all, snowy road conditions shouldn't be taken lightly, as you never know what lurks beneath the snow.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to drive in snow with FWD?

Vehicles with front-wheel drive (FWD) often demand more tire grip since the front wheels are driving the car forward. In snowy road conditions, FWD vehicles should have proper all season tires for mild winter conditions or winter tires for more severe winter road conditions. This should be enough to provide proper handling and traction as long as you pay attention not to understeer.

How much snow is too much to drive in?

That depends on the driver and the vehicle. Generally speaking, if your car has proper tires and if you pay close attention to the road, you should be safe driving in up to four inches of snow. Anything more than that and driving becomes more dangerous.

How to drive in snow with AWD?

Most people think that all-wheel drive (AWD) provides superior handling and traction on snow-covered roads. However, that's not the case. AWD provides better acceleration but that's pretty much all it offers. Therefore, if you're about to drive in snowy road conditions, take things slow and don't brake or steer suddenly.

How to drive in snow without snow tires?

As long as you're driving in mild winter conditions, you'll be fine with all season or all weather tires. However, if the region you drive in experiences frequent heavy snowfalls and below-freezing temperatures, then winter tires are your only option. Without them, your car won't have the traction it needs to overcome ice and snow on the road nor will it have the flexibility to remain soft in freezing temperatures. In other words, you shouldn't drive without winter tires in such conditions or you'll be at greater risk of getting into an accident.

How many inches of snow is dangerous to drive in?

As mentioned before, with proper tires and vigilance, you can drive in up to four inches of snow. That said, six inches of snow and more is considered completely unsafe to drive through.