How Much Longer Are Stopping Distances on Ice?

On ice, your car can take up to 10 times longer to stop than it would on a dry road¹. That is the single figure to hold on to. The Met Office says it can take 10 times longer to stop in snowy or icy conditions, so allow extra room². Winter driving advice comes down to the same three things: slow down, leave a much bigger gap, and give yourself more time³.

The comparison is with a dry road. In the wet, official guidance says stopping distances are at least double those on a dry road⁴. On ice or snow they can be ten times greater⁵. So the room you need roughly doubles in rain and multiplies by ten on ice, and the gap you leave has to grow with it.

What follows is what that means in practice: how to drive and leave space when the roads are icy, how to plan a journey so you are not caught out, and where the official advice comes from so you can check it for yourself.

Why ice multiplies your stopping distance

Tyres stop a car by gripping the road, and ice takes most of that grip away. The result is the tenfold figure that runs through official winter driving advice. Derbyshire County Council says it can take up to 10 times longer to stop in icy conditions compared to being on a dry road¹. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service puts it as 10 times further⁹. Transport Scotland says your stopping distance is increased 10 times when driving in snow and ice¹⁰.

The same message comes from every direction. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service advises driving at a slow speed in as high a gear as possible and accelerating and braking very gently⁶. Somerset Council says braking distances can increase tenfold in icy conditions⁵. Manchester Fire and Rescue Service says braking distances can increase tenfold on ice compared to a dry road¹¹. The Met Office says it can take 10 times longer to stop in snowy or icy conditions, so allow extra room¹².

Two practical points follow. First, the figure is a comparison, not a measurement: it tells you the gap you thought was generous is not. Second, it applies to snow as well as ice. Ceredigion County Council's advice covers both, saying it can take 10 times longer to stop in snowy or icy conditions¹³.

How to drive and leave space when roads are icy

The core technique is the same wherever you read it. Drive at a slow speed in as high a gear as possible, and accelerate and brake very gently⁶. A high gear keeps the wheels from spinning; gentle inputs keep them from locking. Transport Scotland adds that you should not brake heavily, because it will lock the wheels and cause skidding, and that you should consider changing to a lower gear¹⁰.

Steering matters as much as braking. Reduce your speed, steer gently and avoid harsh braking, and allow extra room to slow down and stop¹. South Western Ambulance Service says to reduce your speed and leave extra space between you and other vehicles¹⁵. If you do need to stop on ice or snow without locking your wheels, Oxfordshire Fire and Community Safety advises getting into a low gear earlier than normal, letting your speed drop, and using the brake pedal gently¹⁶.

The Met Office advises reducing your speed and leaving extra space between you and other vehicles¹². If you start to skid, gently ease off the accelerator and avoid braking; if braking is necessary, pump the brakes rather than slamming them on¹⁷.

• Before you set off: check your grip by choosing a safe place to brake gently; if the steering feels unresponsive, that may indicate ice⁴
• On the move: drive especially slowly on bends, brake gradually on the straight before a bend, and steer smoothly⁶
• Around gritters: take care, and do not be tempted to overtake¹²
• Listen: travel bulletins and variable message signs tell you what the road ahead is doing⁶

That silence is a warning in itself. If the road has gone quiet under your tyres, treat it as ice.

Stopping distance in snow, and what slush does to grip

Snow and ice behave differently under a tyre, but the official advice treats them together for stopping distance: it can take 10 times as long to stop in these conditions¹². The Met Office's snow and ice guidance says the same and adds the skid technique: slow down, ease gently off the accelerator if you skid, and pump the brakes rather than slam them on¹².

The speed rule is the one to carry into any snowy journey. Slow right down and only travel at speeds at which you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear⁷. On a road where you cannot see far, that alone sets your speed.

Slush is where grip becomes unpredictable. West Midlands Ambulance Service's winter cycling advice says to choose roads that have been gritted or are clear of snow and ice, be cautious of black ice, and keep away from the edge of the road where slush accumulates¹⁸. The same logic applies behind the wheel: the slushy margins are the least reliable part of the lane, so keep your steering smooth and your speed down near them.

Winter tyres are worth knowing about, though they are a choice rather than a rule. North Yorkshire Council says driving with winter tyres can reduce your stopping distance on ice or snow by up to 10 metres¹⁹. That is a reduction, not a cure: the tenfold figure still governs how you drive.

Allow plenty of time for winter journeys

The simplest protection against ice is not being on it in a hurry. NHS guidance says to allow extra time for journeys²⁰. Staffordshire County Council says to keep your distance from other vehicles, be patient and allow for extra time on your journey³. Traffic Wales says to give yourself extra time to get to your destination safely²¹.

Planning starts before you leave. NHS England's cold weather advice says to check the weather forecast and plan your route, allow extra time so you can drive safely, and, if snow or ice is expected, consider delaying your journey until it clears⁸. The Met Office says to plan your route when there is an ice warning in place²². Northern Ireland's Highway Code rules go further: in winter, check the local forecast for warnings of icy or snowy weather and do not drive in these conditions unless your journey is essential⁴.

• Check the forecast before you decide to go⁸
• Plan your route when an ice warning is in place²²
• Consider delaying if snow or ice is expected⁸
• Stick to main roads where you can, and only travel if necessary in severe winter weather²³
• Allow extra time so you are not tempted to make it up with speed²⁰

Where official advice on icy roads comes from

The tenfold figure is not one organisation's opinion. It appears in Highway Code advice reproduced by fire and rescue services, in council winter service pages and in Met Office travel advice, which is why it is safe to treat as the standard⁶.

In England, councils run winter services on a priority network and publish their own advice. Bedford Borough Council's winter roads pages explain how it keeps winter roads safe²⁴. Somerset Council's gritting pages set out its precautionary network and repeat the tenfold braking figure⁵. The Department for Transport's Snow Code covers clearing snow and ice from paths outside your home, and is separate from driving advice²⁵.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each publish their own guidance alongside the UK-wide Highway Code. Transport Scotland's driving in bad weather pages and Ready Scotland's cold, snow and ice advice cover Scottish journeys¹⁰. Traffic Wales and the Welsh Government's Ready campaign cover Wales²³. In Northern Ireland, nidirect sets out the Highway Code rules on driving in adverse weather, rules 226 to 237⁴.

For the wider picture, our guide to driving in snow and ice covers the full set of winter road skills, and which roads are gritted explains how councils decide what gets treated. If you are weighing up whether to go at all, should I delay my journey in bad weather? walks through the decision.