What is one method suggested for maintaining control when driving on ice?

Maintaining control while driving on ice is crucial for safety, and braking only when absolutely necessary is a recommended method for doing so. On icy surfaces, the risk of skidding increases significantly when you brake. By minimizing braking, you reduce the chances of losing traction, allowing for better control of the vehicle. Instead of relying on sudden stops, drivers should anticipate stops well in advance and gradually decelerate, enabling smoother handling and maintaining steering control.

The other methods, while they may have their own importance in various driving conditions, do not directly address the challenge of icy roads. For example, using cruise control can lead to a loss of traction because it maintains speed regardless of road conditions, and accelerating sharply can result in spinning out of control. Proper tire inflation is always beneficial but doesn’t specifically mitigate the risks associated with ice. Thus, the practice of braking only when absolutely necessary is the most effective strategy for retaining vehicle control on slippery surfaces.