If the jackass cut you off and you're not going to rear-end him, hit him... The insurance company will consider you having lost control of your vehicle if you hit the snowbank regardless of whether you were forced off the road or not.

If you're going to rear-end him, aim for the snowbank, 'cause the insurance company won't care if he just switched lanes into that area you were saving for stopping distance between you and the car that is now in front of him...

An ABS equipped vehicle actually takes longer to reach a full stop on ice than one with a manual brake being pumped rapidly. Of course, as mentioned manual brakes being pumped have far less steer-ability so it's a trade-off. Take your Jeep to a lesser traveled road with a good snow/ice cover (and no parked cars or things to hit), get it up to a low speed and then hammer the brakes. Do this a few times gradually increasing the speed before braking. Get used to how your vehicle stops. Expect it to react differently depending on the road surface.

Downshifting can help slow you down as well (especially, in 4WD). I've heard mixed opinions on shifting into neutral...

But yeah, the idea is to slow down and make sure you're driving for conditions.

 

It's funny to me when I see people in my area sliding off the roads and skidding through stop signs and intersections in snowy weather when they've lived here for years or even their whole life. You'd think they'd catch on and realize how top drive according to the road conditions. Some people just don't learn though I guess.

 

big big problem with a lot of people i think, especially here in michigan, a lot of trucks, suv's, driving entirely too fast, because they have 4 wheel drive, that is one of the nice things about winter though, it reminds us that we are still subject to natural selection, stupid makes stupid decisions...

 

Did they use their brakes?

I'll be near you next weekend. Taking the kids to go ride the GC Polar Express!!