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What Houston drivers should do if your car slides during extreme winter weather? Step 1, don’t panic!

A truck drives past a highway sign Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Houston. A frigid blast of winter weather across the U.S. plunged Texas into an unusually icy emergency Monday that knocked out power to more than 2 million people and shut down grocery stores and dangerously snowy roads. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (David J. Phillip, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

HOUSTON – Houston is not known for its cold weather but in recent years, we have been dealing with freezing temperatures and icy roads. I mean, who could forget Winter Storm Uri in 2021?

Many northerners may laugh at the fact some of us don’t know how to drive on slick roads -- but hey, give us a break, we are use to the heat ... NOT ice!

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A local wrecker driver gave Houstonians several tips on what to do if you hit a patch of ice:

  1. Try NOT to use your brakes. Brakes are asymmetrical, so when you hit the brakes, you might catch one side but it throws your vehicle off.
  2. If you feel yourself sliding, instead of hitting the brakes, just let off the gas. As you proceed to slow down, if you can, shift your gear into neutral and let your vehicle coast.
  3. If you’re driving a truck, put your tow haul on.
  4. Just proceed with caution and know you should not drive at normal speed with ice possibly being on the roads.
  5. And again -- try to stay off your brakes! He said it will be your worst enemy.

About the Author
Brittany Taylor headshot

Award-winning journalist, mother, YouTuber, social media guru, millennial, mentor, storyteller, University of Houston alumna and Houston-native.

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