When I was sharing driving tips with my raised-in-Texas kids about driving (mostly they took formal driving courses) the rule they need to remember for icy conditions, the mantra that should come to mind if they find themselves in snow or ice, is "My brakes are not my friend."

My son and I found ourselves on an icy viaduct one evening and I guided the pickup through the middle and carefully, slowly steered past several vehicles that had slithered to a halt against the sides, not all pointed the correct direction. "Don't touch the brakes, don't give it any gas" and he watched, riveted, as we reached the other end and I reminded myself I should have gone the long way around.