Last Updated on January 3, 2026 by The Insurance Pros

❄️ What to Do If You Lose Control on Ice in Michigan

Losing control on ice can happen fast, especially on Michigan roads during early mornings, bridge crossings, or sudden temperature drops. The good news is that a few calm, simple steps can help you regain control and avoid making the slide worse.

✅ Step 1: Stay Calm and Ease Off the Pedals

Your first instinct might be to stomp the brake or jerk the wheel. Try to resist that. Sudden inputs usually make the skid worse. Instead:

• 🦶 Take your foot off the gas.
• 🧠 Keep your breathing steady; tension leads to overcorrection.
• 👀 Look where you want the car to go, not at the ditch or guardrail.

The Michigan State Police recommends easing off the accelerator and avoiding sudden moves when a vehicle begins to skid.

🛞 Step 2: Steer Into the Skid (In Plain English)

“Steer into the skid” sounds confusing until you picture it like this: steer in the same direction the back of your vehicle is sliding.

• If the rear slides right, gently steer right.
• If the rear slides left, gently steer left.

The goal is to help your front tires realign with the direction your vehicle is moving so traction can return. Michigan State Police describes this same approach: ease off the accelerator, then steer in the direction the rear is sliding.

✋ Step 3: Avoid Overcorrection

Overcorrection is one of the biggest reasons a minor slide becomes a spin. Keep steering movements small and smooth. If you whip the wheel, the vehicle can snap back the other way once traction returns.

🧊 Why Slamming the Brakes Often Makes It Worse

On ice, traction is limited. Hard braking can lock wheels on vehicles without ABS, and even with ABS it can extend stopping distance and reduce your ability to steer.

• 🚫 Avoid stomping the brake pedal in a skid.
• ✅ Focus on regaining steering control first.
• 🧠 If you have ABS, apply steady pressure; do not pump.

AAA’s skid recovery guidance emphasizes looking where you want to go, steering toward your intended path, and avoiding slamming the brakes because it upsets the vehicle’s balance.

🚗 When You Should Pull Over and Wait

Sometimes the smartest move is to stop driving until conditions improve. Consider pulling over if:

• ⚠️ You hit repeated icy patches and cannot maintain safe control.
• 🌫️ Visibility drops (snow squalls, fog, blowing snow).
• 🚧 Roads are untreated, and traffic is sliding or stopping abruptly.

If you pull over, choose a safe location like a well-lit parking lot or a wide shoulder away from curves. Turn on hazard lights and stay buckled if traffic is still moving nearby.

🧠 Extra Michigan Winter Tips That Prevent Skids

• ⏱️ Slow down earlier than you think you need to.
• 🛑 Increase following distance significantly.
• 🌉 Approach bridges and overpasses cautiously (they often freeze first).
• 🌅 Be extra careful early morning and after sunset when temperatures drop.

AAA’s winter driving guidance reinforces slowing down, accelerating/decelerating gradually, and allowing extra stopping distance on snow and ice.

📌 Why Black Ice Causes “Sudden” Loss of Control

Black ice is dangerous because it can look like a normal wet road. Many drivers only realize it’s ice once steering feels light or the vehicle starts drifting. If you want the full breakdown of how it forms and where it’s most common in Michigan, read:
Michigan Black Ice and Winter Road Conditions.

Final Takeaway

If your vehicle starts sliding on ice, your best chance of recovery comes from calm, steady inputs: ease off the accelerator, steer gently into the skid, avoid overcorrecting, and brake smoothly once control returns. Most importantly, slow down before the skid happens. Winter driving in Michigan rewards patience.

Note: This article is for general informational purposes. For official winter driving guidance, see Michigan State Police winter driving tips:
Drive Slow on Ice & Snow (MSP).