DFW drivers beware: These are the roadways and interchanges that tend to get the slickest in icy weather

DALLAS — Drivers beware: North Texas is getting a shot of wintry weather on Thursday. And that means our roadways might get slick, as snow and sleet are both in the forecast for various parts of Dallas-Fort Worth.

As Gov. Greg Abbott asked Texans on Wednesday, the safest play might just be staying home, if you can. But if you have to get out on the roads, take it slow, and know that bridges and overpasses will likely be the slickest spots, as elevated surfaces.

Here are some areas of North Texas roadways that tend to have problems in icy weather:

• Dallas North Tollway between downtown Dallas and Addison
• Interstate 35W and Interstate 30 interchange near downtown Fort Worth
• U.S. 75 and Interstate 635 “High Five” interchange in North Dallas
• Loop 820 and Texas 121 interchange in Northeast Tarrant County
• Texas 121 and Texas 183 interchange in the Mid-Cities area of Tarrant County
• Woodall Rodgers Freeway through downtown Dallas

Check the latest road conditions and forecast updates here, and be sure to download the WFAA+ streaming app for continuous coverage of the winter storm in North Texas on Thursday into Friday.

Here are some tips for staying safe on icy roads.

• If snow and ice accumulate on your vehicle, make sure you clean it off your hood, roof, trunk, lights and windows before hitting the road. This will keep you safe, through better visibility, and keep others safe around you, too.
• Greater snow accumulation might require you to clear a path around the wheels of your vehicle.
• This is important: If someone is helping push your vehicle out of its spot, do not let them stand directly ahead or behind the drive wheels. The spinning tires can throw objects and cause injury.

• Drivers should stay 8-10 seconds behind the car in front of them on icy or slippery surfaces.
• If you’re on a four-lane highway, stay in the lane that was cleared most recently.
• Another important one: Do not use cruise control on an icy or slippery surface. 

• Avoid quick “jerky” movements of the steering wheel, which can cause skidding.
• If you have to avoid a collision, it might be better to steer rather than brake if you’re driving more than 25 mph. Sudden braking could cause a loss of control.
• There are two methods of emergency steering that AAA recommends: 
  • The “push-pull-slide” method in which the driver shuffles their hands so that neither hand crosses over a line between the 12 and 6 on the steering wheel. This allows the driver to make continuous adjustments while steering, instead of major turns in either direction.
  • The “fixed-hand” steering method allows for quick 180-degree steering turns but could result in your arms getting locked if you have to steer beyond 180 degrees.

• If you don’t have antilock brakes, you should do what’s called “threshold braking,” where you keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to put steady pressure on the brake. Do this to the threshold of what it would take to lock your brakes. Leaving your heel on the floor allows for more control of the brake to avoid locking it, according to AAA.
• If you have antilock brakes, keep your foot on the brake at all times. If you press the brake hard enough, your wheels might momentarily lock up and you’ll feel the brake pedal vibrate. AAA emphasizes that this is normal. Do not pump the pedal at this point.
• The antilock brake system relieves just enough pressure to allow your wheels to start turning again, allowing you to steer as your vehicle slows down.

If you drive on icy roads long enough, a skid may be inevitable. There are several ways, according to AAA, you can handle this situation.

• If your car is in a rear-wheel skid, steer in the direction you want the front of your car to go. Do not slam on the brakes, as this will only make it harder to regain control. When your rear wheels stop skidding, keep steering to avoid a skid in the opposite direction.
• If your car is in a front-wheel skid, again steer in the direction you want the front of your car to go. When the front wheels regain their grip, the vehicle will be able to steer again. You can then steer the wheels in the direction you want. Unlike a rear-wheel skid, a front-wheel skid on a car with front-wheel drive, will not result in your car skidding in the opposite direction, as the front wheels will be locked.