Winter and slippery roads — Alabama Permit Test

Before winter driving, let the engine warm up while you clear snow and ice from the car, especially the hood, and the windows.

Snow on the hood blows onto the windshield and blinds you as soon as you move.

Before driving, start the engine and let it warm up while you remove snow and ice from the car (especially the hood) and windows.

Be sure your windshield-washing fluid contains antifreeze, and on extremely cold days be careful using the washer at high speed, since the fluid can freeze on the windshield.

Washer fluid that freezes on the glass blocks your view in an instant.

Even if the fluid contains antifreeze, high speed combined with extreme cold can freeze the solution on the windshield and totally obscure your vision.

Get the feel of a snowy road by trying your brakes while driving slowly, then adjust your speed to the situation.

A gentle test tells you how slippery the road really is before you need to stop for real.

Try your brakes while driving slowly to find out just how slippery the road is and then adjust your speed to the situation.

Snow treads on the drive wheels improve traction in snow but not on ice; for extremely icy conditions, hard-packed snow and very deep snow, reinforced tire chains are best.

Treads grip snow, but ice needs chains that bite into the surface.

For extremely icy conditions, hard packed snow, and very deep snow, reinforced tire chains are the best.

Alabama law requires headlights to be on when the windshield wipers are in use because of rain, sleet or snow; intermittent use of the wipers does not require headlights.

Weather bad enough to need wipers is weather in which other drivers need to see you.

Alabama law requires that headlights be turned on when the windshield wipers of the vehicle are in use because of rain, sleet, or snow.

On snow or ice it takes three to twelve times as much distance to stop your car as on dry pavement.

Ice can take many times the room to stop, so you need to keep well back.

Remember that on snow or ice it takes three to twelve times as much distance to stop your car as on dry pavement.

To start on snow and ice, lower the engine speed to its minimum; if your wheels spin, start in second or high gear, and with an automatic accelerate slowly and smoothly.

A gentle start keeps the wheels from spinning and digging in.

If your wheels spin, start in second or high gear.

If you must stop suddenly on a slippery surface, pump your brakes: if the wheels lock, release the brake to get them rolling, then squeeze down again, repeating until the car stops.

Rolling wheels can still steer; locked wheels just slide.

If your wheels lock, release the brake to get them rolling again, then squeeze down again and keep repeating the pumping action until the vehicle stops.

Before driving in snow, what should you clear?

Snow and ice from the windows and hood. Snow on the hood blows onto the windshield and blinds you as soon as you move. Alabama Driver Manual, p.70: “Before driving, start the engine and let it warm up while you remove snow and ice from the car (especially the hood) and windows.”