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Question

Difficulty: MediumAdjusting Margins in Ice and Snow

You are driving down a steep, untreated rural hill that is covered with packed ice. What should you do to maintain safe vehicle control and adequate safety margins?

  1. A
    Double your normal following distance and use firm footbrake pressure to regulate your speed
  2. B
    Select neutral to coast down the gradient and apply the handbrake intermittently to slow down
  3. Drive at a very slow speed in a low gear and allow up to ten times the normal stopping distanceAnswer
  4. D
    Maintain your normal dry-road separation distance and apply sharp braking inputs before each bend

Answer

Drive at a very slow speed in a low gear and allow up to ten times the normal stopping distance
According to The Highway Code, stopping distances on ice and packed snow can be up to ten times greater than on dry roads. When negotiating a steep downhill descent in icy conditions, drivers must travel at a very slow speed, engage a low gear so engine braking assists in controlling speed, and leave up to ten times the normal separation distance to prevent collisions.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Assess the severe reduction in road friction caused by packed ice
Recognise that stopping distances can increase by up to ten times compared to dry road conditions.
Ice offers minimal grip, requiring a significantly expanded separation gap of up to 20 seconds.
2
Select the correct driving technique and gear for a downhill descent on ice
Drive very slowly and engage a low gear to utilise natural engine braking while avoiding harsh pedal inputs.
Engine braking slows the vehicle steadily without locking the road wheels, preventing skids.

Key Concept

On ice and snow, stopping distances can increase by up to ten times, requiring greatly increased following gaps and the use of low gears to maintain control on downhill descents.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Adjusting Margins in Ice and Snow

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