As the cold spell persists into January, Adrian Flux Insurance has issued crucial advice for drivers facing icy roads. The insurer warns that skidding is a common hazard and has shared a key technique: steer gently into the skid. For example, if the rear of the vehicle slides to the right, drivers should steer to the right.
The advice, posted in a TikTok video, emphasises not to take hands off the steering wheel or brake hard. Steering into the skid aligns the wheels with the actual direction of travel, helping tyres regain traction. Steering opposite risks overcorrection, potentially causing the vehicle to spin out of control.
The AA also provides guidance for winter driving, recommending gentle acceleration and shifting into a higher gear early. It stresses reducing speed and increasing following distances, noting that stopping distances can be at least 10 times greater on snow or ice compared to dry conditions.
Drivers are advised to keep an eye on vehicles ahead for clues about black ice patches. In heavy snow, visibility is reduced, so slower speeds and longer reaction times are essential. The AA highlights that braking distances at 30mph can increase from 23 metres in normal conditions to up to 230 metres on snow.
Social media users have shared their experiences, with one confirming the technique works after a skid across multiple lanes, resulting only in four blown tyres. Another user appreciated the clarification of steering 'into the skid', admitting previous misunderstanding could have been disastrous.
