The Dos and Don'ts of Maine Winter Driving

I have been driving during Maine winters since the day after I got my license. It's not always pleasant, but if you remember how to do it, then you should be just fine.

Do remember slush is dangerous, too - Many people think if there's just slush on the road, they should be okay going normal speeds. Slush can pull your vehicle right off the side of the road if you hit it right. It can also cause you to hydroplane, and lose control of your vehicle. It's no safer than driving in a bunch of snow, and often it's more dangerous.

Don't hit your breaks - Yes, that is your first reaction. No, you should never, ever do it. You will lose control of your vehicle. It's not summer driving, it's winter driving, and Maine always gets snow. If you need to slow down, downshift. If you're going too fast to downshift in an automatic, touch your breaks very lightly.

Do keep your distance - Continuing the last one. If you're so close behind someone that you feel you need to hit your breaks? You were too close. Give other cars distance; if something happens, then you need to have time to react without losing control of your own vehicle.

Don't jerk the wheel - During the winter in Maine, there's often ice in the roadways. If you're sliding, keep our hands on the wheel and your feet off the pedals. Anything you do with the tires can just make a problem worse. You can hit a guard rail, or hit oncoming cars.

Don't accelerate too quickly - Same theory here. Accelerating too quickly during the winter can cause your car to fishtail, especially if it's rear-wheel drive. It can also cause your tires to spin, and if you do that enough, you'll melt grooves into the ice, then good luck getting your car out.

Don't drive until you can see out of your windows - During the winter in Maine, you will have ice, snow, and frost all over your windows. Pre-heat your car, just like an oven! Don't drive if you can't see. The road conditions are already bad enough.

Do watch for black ice - Black ice is ice that has frozen clear, so it can be hard to see when driving. Anywhere the road looks wet, use caution. Anywhere the road might get runoff, it might also have black ice. Follow the steps form before if you hit it - don't hit the breaks, don't jerk the steering wheel.

Do reduce your speed - Even if you have 4-wheel drive, it won't help you if you end up in one of Maine's many ditches. Use common sense; follow traffic, and don't go as fast when the roads aren't clear. Winter driving in Maine can be hazardous, especially when dealing with drivers who don't know how to deal with it.