Should You Pump, Press, or Slam Your Brakes on a Patch of Ice?

Sure signs of winter include: the sudden desire to wear long underwear, a craving for hot chocolate, and a proliferation of snowy road disasters highlighted in the IdiotsInCars subreddit.

Humanity has been dealing with snow and ice for thousands of years, but driving a car on icy roads has only been a thing for a century or so. We’re still apparently getting the hang of it, considering that nearly 20 percent of annual weather-related vehicle crashes can be chalked up to snow and ice. A lot of people just don’t seem to have a basic grasp of fundamental forces like momentum and friction, which leads to them driving way too fast on icy roads—and then being unable to stop.

But even if you drive very safely when the roads are iced up, you can still get into trouble if you don’t know how to brake properly. You might be thinking that braking is pretty straightforward: You press on the brake with your foot, the car slows down. Well, yes. But also: No, not necessarily, if the roads are icy. Here’s what you need to know about how to use the brakes on your car in icy conditions.

To pump or not to pump (the brakes)

Driving is like anything else these days: Riddled with misinformation. For example, you’ve probably been advised that when you’re driving on icy roads you should “pump your brakes” when you need to slow down or stop. The theory is that if you just push on the brake pedal all at once, your brakes can lock up, sending you into a dangerous skid. Using a pumping action, where you press down and release the brakes rapidly, allows them to slow you down without locking up.

However, this is increasingly outdated advice. It’s true that at some point in the past pumping your brakes on icy roads was a good idea,  because most cars lacked an antilock braking systems (ABS). Those old-style brakes could indeed “lock up” and cause you to lose control of the vehicle. However, in 2012 the United States mandated that all passenger cars be equipped with ABS.

What this means is that your braking technique on icy roads depends a lot on how old your car is. If it’s a 2013 model or newer, you almost certainly have ABS, and so pumping your brakes is the exact wrong thing to do—ABS automates the “pumping” action for you. If you’re driving an older model car, check to see if it has ABS—the technology was widely available as far back as the 1980s, so it’s possible your car does have ABS.

ABS isn’t magic, though. To stop on icy roads with ABS, press down firmly on the brake pedal and don’t let up. You’ll feel a vibration or shaking as the car slows. But cars with ABS can still lock up on ice, and you can still skid despite the best efforts of the technology. Your best strategy on icy roads is always to slow down, avoid tailgating, and maintain situational awareness so you never have to test just how magical ABS is—or isn’t.

If you don’t have ABS, pumping the brakes is a good idea. But there’s an art to pumping your brakes properly.

How to pump the brakes in an older car

The key step to remember when braking in wintry conditions is to not panic. Physics may betray you, but keeping your cool is the first step to reducing your risk. Here’s how to pump the brakes in an older car without ABS:

• Don’t “slam” on your brakes. Even if you see traffic coming up fast in front of you, slamming on your brakes is a surefire way to lock up your wheels and send your car into a skid or a spin.
• Pump your brakes gently, then release, then pump again in a steady, moderate rhythm. If you feel the car starting to skid or slide, release the brakes, regain control, and try again.
• Pumping your brakes allows you to retain control over the vehicle. While icy roads might cause you to slide anyway, as long as you don’t lock up you can still steer the car to avoid an impact or at least reduce the damage.

If you start to slide or “fishtail,” release the brakes. Your instinct might be to double-down on stopping the car, but this will just enhance the slide. Let up on the brakes and steer into the direction of the slide—but don’t overdo it and jerk the wheel. Keep your course correction gradual. This will get you back in control of the car, so you can start braking again.