To help have your vehicle in the safest condition possible, make sure to go to regular scheduled maintenances. Also make sure that the windshield wipers are functioning properly. This is important incase any precipitation occurs because then you will be able to clear it away to insure better visibility as you drive. The windshield washer fluid should also be filled to the amount recommended by the reservoir. Also check the front and rear defrosters to ensure they are working properly.
Make sure to drive with care when you are on the roads. Try to avoid using cruise control on your vehicle while driving on poor roads. By not having cruise control on, you will be able to control your vehicle better if you hit an icy patch. If the weather is less than ideal, and the roads are less than ideal, you will want to make sure you take your time when you travel. Drive at a speed you feel comfortable at, so you can make sure you keep control of your vehicle. Driving slower and being able to keep your vehicle under control is more important that driving at the exact speed limit and risk your vehicle going in the ditch or having an accident. That is why traffic will typically slow down anywhere from five to forty percent of the average speed in a heavy snowstorm. At higher speeds, you do not have as much time to react if someone brakes ahead of you.
Black ice actually looks like clear ice. This is because black ice will form with very few air bubbles, which makes it transparent. The black ice is much harder to see than normal ice when you drive. In fact, most people usually mistake black ice for wet pavement while driving. It is dangerous because drivers are unprepared to react to the slippery conditions when they encounter the black ice. Research has shown that black ice was five times more dangerous that driving in normal conditions. Apply the brakes on black ice can also take up to nine times longer to stop than normal. Be cautions and carful when driving, so you can stay as safe as possible on the road.