Winter Driving Safety Tips for Wet & Icy Texas Roads

Winter in North Texas rarely means weeks of snow. More often, it brings short bursts of sleet, freezing rain, and ice that can turn I-35E or US-75 slick overnight. These storms arrive only a few times a season, so you get little practice driving on ice before the next one hits.

However, weather forecasters expect a wetter-than-average winter across the southern United States this year. NOAA’s 2026-27 Winter Outlook indicates that the agency expects a very strong El Niño for December through February. El Niño pushes the jet stream south, which will steer more storms toward Texas.

Rain alone raises your crash risk. A study of 16 years of Texas crash data found that rainfall increased the risk of a crash by an average of 38 percent. When precipitation meets a hard freeze, it can fall as sleet, freezing rain, or heavy snow in parts of the state. You may also wake up to roads that look wet but are actually glazed with ice.

You don’t need a record El Niño for ice to be dangerous, though. The Federal Highway Administration reports that 24 percent of weather-related crashes happen on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement. More than 1,300 people die in those crashes every year.

5 Habits That Keep You Safer on Ice

The safest winter drivers do a few simple things well: they slow down, move gently, and expect ice before they see it. Likewise, if a trip can wait until crews treat the roads, the safest drivers let it wait and only go when the roads are safe to navigate again.

Slow Down & Add Distance

Wet pavement lengthens your stopping distance. A 2008 Danish study estimated that ordinary drivers needed an extra 20-30 percent of additional distance when stopping on wet pavement compared to dry. Ice stretches that figure even further.

When roads are icy or slippery, drive well below the posted limit and leave extra room behind the car ahead. That gap gives you time to brake gently instead of slamming the pedal. Losing traction in an already-slick environment can send your car careening out of control.

Brake & Steer Gently

Your tires grip on the road is arguably the most important factor in slick driving conditions. Hard braking, sharp turns, and quick acceleration can all break your tires’ grip, causing you to lose control. If your car starts to slide, ease off the gas and steer smoothly where you want to go.

With anti-lock brakes, press firmly and hold the pedal rather than pumping it, but do not slam down on the brake pedal. It’s not uncommon to feel that pedal pulsing when your car starts to skid—this is normal, and it’s your brake system compensating to keep traction.

Treat Bridges & Overpasses as Icy

The National Weather Service warns that bridges and overpasses freeze before other road surfaces. Black ice on a bridge often looks like a harmless wet patch, and they can cause you to quickly lose control.

Be mindful of bridges during cold weather. Even if the temperature isn’t below freezing, there may still be frost or ice on a bridge surface. Lift off the gas before you reach the bridge and keep the wheel steady as you cross.

Turn Off Cruise Control

Cruise control holds your speed steady, even when the road can no longer support it. On slick pavement, you need to feel the car and react the moment traction changes. Keep your own foot in charge whenever roads are wet or icy.

Prep Your Car Before the Freeze

Before the weather starts to turn, take an opportunity to prep your car for low-traction conditions. A study conducted by AAA shows that cars driving on 4/32” of tread (the legal limit for what is considered “safe”) needed roughly another 43% more distance to come to a stop safely than a car on fresh tires.

Check your tire tread and pressure, replace streaky wiper blades, and test every light. Pack an emergency kit with a blanket, flashlight, phone charger, water, snacks, and an ice scraper. If an ice storm strands you on the highway, that kit can keep you warm until help arrives.

Bad Weather Doesn’t Excuse Careless Driving

Ice does not let a careless driver off the hook. Texas Transportation Code § 545.351 requires drivers to keep a speed that is reasonable for current conditions, including mandating slowing down when weather or road conditions create a special hazard.

A driver who hits you at full highway speed on a glazed freeway made a choice. Insurers may argue that the weather caused the crash, not their driver. However, Texas law places the onus on all motorists to operate their vehicle safely, and the weather does not excuse a driver from that duty. The same rule applies to truck drivers, delivery vans, and rideshare drivers working through a storm.

What to Do After a Winter Crash

Your first job after a winter crash is safety, and your second is evidence. Check for injuries, call 911, and stay clear of traffic, because other drivers will encounter the same ice that caught you. It’s not uncommon for a single ice patch to catch multiple vehicles in a short span.

Next, photograph the road and weather conditions before they change. Capture the road surface, any ice or standing water, the sky, and every vehicle involved. Ice can melt within just a few hours above freezing temperatures, especially in direct sunlight. Your photos may be the only proof of what the road looked like.

Write down the time, the temperature if you can see it, and the names of any witnesses. See a doctor even if you feel fine, since adrenaline can hide injuries for hours. A step-by-step checklist for the first hours after a crash walks you through the rest.

If another driver’s choices caused your injuries, you may still have a car accident claim even though the weather played a part. An attorney can review the evidence and tell you where you stand.

Hurt in a Winter Crash? We Can Help

Since 1993, Angel Reyes & Associates has stood up for injured Texans against powerful insurance companies. We have helped more than 70,000 injury victims, with more than $1 billion recovered for clients.

Consultations are free, you pay nothing unless we win, and we are available 24/7 in English and Spanish. Contact us today to talk through your options.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.