At the end of the day, just like flying, it's about energy management. Cars, on nice dry days can dissipate energy very quickly via brakes. Most can pull at least a half a g cornering and can put all, or most of their power to the ground when the weather is nice. When it gets wet, you lose ability in all those realms. Snow? You lose a little more. Ice? You have very little traction left, bad things happen.
So when you find yourself in an icy road situation, energy management is key. Figuring out the road is icy is half the battle. Around here, this time of year, morning is the worst time for black ice and ice in general, especially when the temps hover around freezing, above in daylight, below at night. Conditions can change from one mile to the next. Exit ramps and bridges are always worse than main roads. All the cars I've owned since I was a young un have outside air temps on the dash. When that hits 32, I change my driving habits. If it's wet and cold, I strategically check for ice by braking or minute swerves. You can feel the car get loose in those conditions if you're looking for it.
Exit ramps in low temps that are wet are bad news, summer time I might not slow down for one. Winter when it's icy, or it could be icy, I don't drive any faster than I figure I want to hit something at. How slow depends on the exit.
I've been around snow and ice my whole life. When I started driving, I took my car to a icy parking lot and would have at it. Skids, spin outs, just seeing what it took, ice doesn't take much. I still do it, I've had three Grand Cherokees, when I get them, the first chance I get, I make them skid in snow and ice. Each one has been different. They go really well in the snow, but act just like a car when it comes to corners or stopping when it's slippery.
There is nothing worse than the feeling of becoming a passenger zipping 65 mph down the highway, world spinning around. The night it happened to me the car spun about 8 times before it finally stopped facing the wrong way in the passing lane. I got cocky that night, fortunately nothing damaged except maybe my pride. But it was the last time I spun out. I have hit ice many times since, but my winter driving habits have saved me so far.
I see people who are the best drivers ever, you can tell, they will blow by you going 75 mph in a snow storm when they should be doing 40 like every one else. Many times you see them further up the road in a ditch. They didn't manage their energy well.
Since I currently live with my parents, I'll be moving too. I'm still trying to figure out if I want to move to Texas or elsewhere, but am leaning heavily toward the elsewhere due in part to that weather. LOL
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