But wet ice can be even more trouble because it
can offer the least traction of all. You can get
wet ice when it is about freezing, 32°F (0°C), and
freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving
on wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there.
Whatever the condition — smooth ice, packed,
blowing, or loose snow — drive with caution.
If your vehicle has the Traction Control System
(TCS), it will improve your ability to accelerate when
driving on a slippery road. But you can turn the TCS
off if you ever need to. You should turn the TCS off
if your vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud, ice, or
snow. See If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow on page 178. Even if you have TCS,
slow down and adjust your driving to the road
conditions. Under certain conditions, you might
want to turn the TCS off, such as when driving
through deep snow and loose gravel, to help
maintain vehicle motion at lower speeds. See
Traction Control System (TCS) on page 157.
If your vehicle does not have TCS, accelerate
gently. Try not to break the fragile traction. If you
accelerate too fast, the drive wheels will spin
and polish the surface under the tires even more.
Unless your vehicle has the Antilock Brake System
(ABS), you will want to brake very gently, too. If you
do have ABS, see Antilock Brake System (ABS) on
page 154. ABS improves your vehicle’s stability
when you make a hard stop on a slippery road.
Whether your vehicle has ABS or not, begin
stopping sooner than you would on dry pavement.
Without ABS, if you feel your vehicle begin to slide,
let up on the brakes a little. Push the brake pedal
down steadily to get the most traction you can.
175
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