ABC11 took a drive around Cary on Wednesday night, where many major roads looked fine, but some of the side streets still had snow on the ground. All it takes is one patch of ice to cause some big problems. And this kind of thing can sneak up on you.
For a quick refresher, ABC11 hit the road with Cary driving instructor David Applewhite from Maintain Your Lane Driving School.
Applewhite said the biggest culprit in North Carolina is people not leaving enough distance between their vehicles.
"If it's ice, I would tell them maybe add a second or two, so, if it's three seconds, at least four to six seconds," Applewhite said.
It wasn't long before those messy ice patches appeared.
"Black ice can be very tricky," Applewhite said. "It looks like a wet road surface."
He said that when you see it, lay off the gas.
"Notice how I take the foot off the accelerator as I go and coast across it," Applewhite said.
But if you do end up slipping and sliding, don't slam on the brakes. And counter to what you might think, don't turn in the other direction.
"I would suggest you to steer into the skid," Applewhite said. "Light taps on the brake and steer into the skid."
And just like he tells his students, patience is a virtue.
"Everyone is running late, so it's very important to plan ahead because you do not know what you're going to run into on the roadway," Applewhite said.
Here's some good advice to stay safe on potentially icy roads.