Dust off your Drivers' Ed Manual: Tips to avoid an accident - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Dust off your Drivers' Ed Manual: Tips to avoid an accident

By: Christine Souders

csouders@cbs4qc.com

The icy roads can be very dangerous. So what can you do to stay safe?

Well we've got some expert advice.

Drivers' Ed. Teacher Steve Edner said if you feel like you're losing control of your car, don't slam on the brakes, or suddenly turn the wheel.  

Instead, before you get into a dangerous predicament, anticipate your next move and have an out.

"Have some place that you can be able to go if something bad does happen," said Edner.

And if you feel like the wheels are losing their grip, Edner recommends going with the flow, "If my back end is sliding out to the right then I want to turn the wheels to the right, okay. If my back end is sliding to the left, then turn the wheel to the left."

He said keeping a good distance between vehicles is another safe precaution.

"Normally we go 3 seconds, so today we might go 4 or 5 seconds to stay behind a car, so that if something does happen, we have a little room."

Driving straight ahead is one thing, but how do you brace for a turn?

"I'm going to slow down enough before I enter the curve, so that I don't have to hit my breaks during the curve.

The old rule of pumping the brakes is still a good way to slow down, but many newer cars have anti lock brakes so you won't have to.