How to Drive Safely on Slippery Roads: Driving Tips to Avoid Accidents & Protect Your Rights

Across Florida, Tennessee, Texas, and other states, thousands of drivers face the same sudden danger every year: slippery roads. Whether it’s a summer downpour in Miami, an icy bridge in Nashville, or a flash flood outside Houston, one wrong move on wet pavement can turn an ordinary drive into a life-changing accident.

We’ve seen it firsthand. One minute you’re on your way to work or picking up the kids, the next you’re fighting to keep control of your car. And while road safety tips can save lives, the reality is clear: dangerous weather and road conditions cause far too many crashes, injuries, and fatalities in our states every year.

The Problem of Wet or Slippery Roads and The Numbers Behind That

Slippery roads are one of the most underestimated driving hazards, and with them comes a high risk of accidents. Rain, ice, and flooding don’t just make it harder to see — they reduce tire grip, lengthen stopping distances, and make even small mistakes dangerous. Across Florida, Tennessee, and Texas, wet-weather conditions cause thousands of crashes every year, many with life-changing consequences.

In Florida alone in 2023, there were

• 71,101 crashes during rain, leading to 176 fatalities and over 13,500 injuries, and
• 106,820 crashes on wet road surfaces, including 320 fatalities and over 10,000 incapacitating or non-incapacitating injuries.

That means more than 1 in 10 crashes in Florida last year happened in the rain or on wet pavement. The danger is magnified by sudden tropical downpours, hurricane-season flooding, and oil slicks that form after the first rain in weeks. These conditions can cause even experienced drivers to lose control.

In Tennessee, the hazard looks different but the risk is just as real. Higher elevations see black ice and freezing rain during winter, leading to spinouts, jackknifed trucks, and multi-car collisions. Even short stretches of icy roadway can cause massive pileups in a matter of seconds.

In Texas, drivers face severe thunderstorms, flash flooding that can sweep away vehicles, and icy bridges in the winter months. Rural highway stretches add another danger — longer emergency response times, meaning injuries can become more serious before help arrives.

Different states. Different hazards. But the same outcome: every year, thousands of people are killed or seriously injured because road and weather conditions turn a routine drive into a disaster.

12 Safety Tips for Driving on Slippery Roads Conditions

Slippery conditions can catch any driver off guard. The safest drivers know that skill and preparation matter just as much as technology. Whether you’re steering through a Florida downpour, navigating Tennessee black ice, or crossing a rain-slick Texas bridge, these traditional driving techniques, backed up by modern car features, can help you stay in control.

1. Keep Your Hands on the Wheel and Your Eyes Far Ahead

Look further down the road than usual so you can anticipate hazards early. On wet pavement, obstacles like stalled cars, standing water, or patches of ice require more reaction time. In Florida, this helps you spot flooded intersections; in Tennessee, icy shaded spots; in Texas, debris washed onto highways after storms.

2. Smooth, Gentle Steering and Braking

Sudden movements are the enemy of traction. Ease into turns and brake progressively to avoid skids. In slippery conditions, even tapping the brakes too hard can cause loss of control, especially on backroads or rural highways with uneven surfaces.

3. Increase Your Following Distance

On dry roads, a 3-second gap might be enough. On wet or icy roads, double that at a minimum to at least 6 seconds, and in heavy rain, snow, or ice, aim for triple the distance. This extra buffer gives you more time to brake or maneuver if something happens ahead. It’s critical when a Florida driver brakes suddenly in a downpour, when you’re in traffic on a frosty morning, or when a highway curve hides a stalled vehicle after a storm. So increase the distance between your vehicle and the car in front until you know you have a safe margin to stop, even if traction is poor.

4. Use the “Two-Tire Rule” in Standing Water

If you can’t avoid a flooded area, aim so that only one side of your vehicle goes through the water. This reduces drag and helps maintain control. Texas drivers can use this trick in flash flood zones; Florida drivers can use it at low-lying intersections after a storm.

5. Downshift Instead of Braking on Slopes

In hilly terrain, use lower gears to slow down instead of relying solely on brakes, especially on icy or wet declines. This reduces the chance of wheel lock-up and sliding.

6. Skidding Maneuvers 

If you feel your vehicle going into a skid, try not to panic (though that can be easier said than done). There are a few ways to get out of a skid or hydroplane. Keep these 5 steps in mind if you can so next time you feel like you are losing control of the car, you will be in a better position to recover safely:

1. Take your foot off of the accelerator
2. DO NOT engage the brakes; they are useless because the vehicle has no traction during a skid
3. Steer the vehicle gently in the direction in which you want it to go; do not turn the wheel aggressively as you will likely completely lose control of the vehicle
4. Allow the front wheels to regain their grip
5. Continue to steer gently in the appropriate direction

No matter what, take time to collect yourself after a skid.

7. Reduce Speed When Slippery or Wet Conditions

Speed limits are for perfect weather. In heavy rain, icy conditions, or when visibility drops, lower your speed, even by 5–10 mph, to give yourself more control and stopping distance. Florida’s oil-slicked rain starts, Tennessee’s frost, and Texas’s flash floods all make this essential.

8. Avoid Cruise Control When Driving in Rain or Ice

Cruise control removes the constant feedback between your foot and the road. Turn it off in slippery conditions so you can respond instantly to loss of traction — vital for Florida interstates in a sudden storm, Tennessee mountain passes in winter, or Texas bridges after a freeze.

9. Lights

In cases where visibility is diminished, drive with your headlights on. That is the law in all 50 states though some states may differ on what is considered diminished visibility. Most Americas are taught to turn on their car lights when it begins to rain, snow, or when the road is covered in fog. If you are driving on slippery roads, the conditions are already slightly dangerous and it is or was likely snowing or raining, so turn your lights on. Additionally, avoid using your flashers unless your vehicle is disabled.

10. Avoid Sudden Lane Changes

Changing lanes quickly can cause tires to lose grip on slippery surfaces. Plan ahead, signal early, and make smooth, gradual lane shifts. This is especially important on Florida’s high-speed toll roads and multi-lane highways after storms.

11. Keep Tires in Good Shape

Tires with worn tread are dangerous on wet surfaces. In Florida heat, rubber wears faster; in Tennessee, cold can cause cracks; in Texas, long highway runs can hide slow leaks. Aim for at least 4/32″ tread and proper inflation for your vehicle’s load.

12. Just for Emergencies

Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle to include the following items:

1. Flashlight
2. Paper towels
3. Blanket
4. Booster cables
5. Flares or triangles

Though these items will not help you avoid accidents while driving on slippery roads, these items will come in handy if you find that you are involved in a car accident.

What To Do If an Accident Happens

Even the most careful drivers can get caught in dangerous weather. A sudden downpour in Florida, black ice in Tennessee, or flash flooding in Texas can turn a safe trip into a serious accident in seconds. If that happens, the moments right after the crash matter, not just for your safety, but for protecting your rights later.

Step One: Secure Safety First

Your first priority is to protect yourself and anyone else involved from further harm. Call 911 immediately and clearly report the accident, injuries, and location. In multi-vehicle pileups, especially during storms or icy conditions, first responders may be handling several emergencies at once, and giving them precise information can speed up the help.

If it’s safe, move your vehicle out of the flow of traffic. Turn on your hazard lights so approaching drivers can see you through rain, fog, or low visibility. Check on others involved and provide help if you can do so without putting yourself in danger.

Step Two: Preserve the Scene with Evidence

Once everyone is safe and emergency services are on the way, start documenting what happened. Use your phone to take clear photos and videos of:

• Vehicle positions and damage
• Road conditions (wet pavement, standing water, icy spots)
• Weather at the time (rainfall, fog, snow, or debris)
• Any skid marks or debris on the roadway

Also, write down the time, location, and what the conditions were like. Exchange contact and insurance details with the other driver(s), and get the names and numbers of any witnesses. If you’re in Florida during heavy rain, Tennessee during a freeze, or Texas after flooding, note any official weather alerts. They can be important in proving conditions later.

Step Three: Avoid Costly Mistakes

It’s easy to say something in the moment that can come back to hurt your claim. Avoid apologizing or admitting fault, even casually. Don’t skip medical attention just because you “feel fine”, but soft tissue injuries, concussions, and internal damage may take hours or days to show symptoms.

One of the most damaging mistakes is speaking to the other driver’s insurance company before you’ve had legal advice. Their goal is to reduce what they pay you, not to help you. And never post about the crash on social media, even a simple photo or comment can be used to minimize your claim.

Step Four: Understand Your State’s Unique Risks

Weather-related crashes often lead to disputes about responsibility, and each state handles these cases differently:

• Florida: Heavy rain and sudden flooding are common crash causes. Conditions like these often trigger no-fault PIP coverage, but serious injury claims may still go further.
• Tennessee: Winter black ice can cause multi-car pileups in seconds. The state’s shorter deadlines mean waiting to take action can cost you your claim.
• Texas: Thunderstorms, flash floods, and icy overpasses are major hazards. Rural stretches can delay emergency response, and delays in gathering evidence can weaken your case.

No matter where you are, one thing is constant: the sooner you involve a lawyer after a weather-related crash, the better your chances of protecting your rights and securing the compensation you need.

Why Accidents in Slippery Conditions Are Hard to Win Without a Lawyer

In weather-related crashes, insurers often blame the rain, ice, or flooding. That defense can block your claim unless you can prove the other driver acted carelessly despite the conditions. Doing that takes quick work: collecting weather reports, photos, witness statements, and even expert accident reconstructions before evidence disappears.

At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, we know how to cut through those defenses. We move fast to secure proof, protect you from adjuster tactics, and build a case that shows exactly how negligence, not just bad weather, caused your injuries. With offices and teams ready to help across Florida, Tennessee, and Texas, we’re here wherever you need us. If you’ve been in a wet-road crash, call us 24/7. We’ll fight to get you the compensation you deserve.