WSET.com - ABC13Driving Safely on Dangerous Roads

Reporter: Melinda Zosh

Lynchburg, VA - Black ice will be a major factor for drivers out on the roads Sunday and early Monday morning, but there are some tips to help keep you safe, tips new drivers are taking to heart.

It's 17-year-old Adrien Calloway's turn to take the wheel.

 "So Adrien is responsible for adjusting her mirrors, her seat, getting everyone properly buckled," Owner and Operator of Mann's Driving School John Mann said.

"It's very important because you never know what's going to happen," Student Driver Lisa Henderson said.

But Mann is ready for the snowy roads.

"We gotta make sure we're confident (that) visibility inside the car and outside is good," Mann said.

So buckles are fastened, and wipers are working.

"So what we're gonna do is we're gonna drive slower. Other drivers are very impatient, they like to go faster, they brake quicker.So we're going to de-accelerate and our breaking distance increases on a day like today," Mann said.

Mann's also instructed Calloway to keep a constant eye on other cars.

"Because you may be thinking one thing but a car's probably thinking something totally different," Henderson said.

And if YOUR car loses traction...

"Never turn away from a skid, because that's very dangerous. It can flip your car or throw you in a line of traffic of other vehicles," Mann said.

And for new drivers like Calloway, she says, it's best to take advantage of all the advice she's given.

"It's best to learn when someone's behind the wheel teaching you then when you're alone, because we're gonna have to drive one day on our own, on the snowy roads, and we ain't gonna have no one there to instruct us," Calloway said.

Experts say it's crucial to be the defensive driver in slick conditions. Keep your eyes open for cars braking hard or driving too fast. And again, if you feel your car skidding, stay with it, and pump your brakes.