DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – As temperatures drop, drivers need to be extra careful on the roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly 20 percent of all vehicle accidents occur in winter conditions.

While you can’t always avoid driving in ice and snow, there are some things you can do to avoid slipping or hydroplaning.

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D&D Driving School has some suggestions:

Increase your following distance on icy or wet roads. After the car in front of you passes a solid object, count eight seconds before following it.

Keep your headlights on in foggy or cloudy conditions. Making your car more visible to other drivers will reduce the chances of it being hit.

Reduce your speed to half if the roads are icy. The reduced traction between your tires and the road due to ice increases the time it takes to come to a stop when necessary.

Do not brake or accelerate when crossing bridges or overpasses. Crossing the track in neutral reduces the likelihood of a skid because one side of your vehicle is traveling faster than the other, even if only temporarily.

Stay informed about road conditions. The National Weather Service and mobile apps that provide weather forecasts send snow depth warnings. You can also monitor closures issued by the Sheriff’s Office.

If you start to skid on slippery roads, the key to regaining control is creating traction.

“If you lose traction, your wheels will spin,” said Sharon Fife, president of D&D Driving School. “When you apply your brakes, your wheels lock. So you want your wheels to move to maintain some traction.

“You want to take your foot off the gas or the brake and look and steer where you want to go.”

Driving instructors also recommend purchasing winter tires for better traction on slippery roads.

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