What is the best way to regain control on black ice?

I live in NM. NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO REALLY DRIVE IN BAD WEATHER HERE!! ; ) IT'S AMAZING!

Recently, we had a bad storm roll through our area. I was on my way to work when I hit a slick patch of ice. I started going off to the passenger side of the road. I thought, OK, go off into the shoulder, get on the grass, gain traction, slow down, and ease back onto the road. Which I did. However, when I eased back on the road, I hit another patch and completely lost control.

I've heard the theories about skids: turn into it, turn out of it, don't hit the brake, etc... I kept the foot off the brake and tried everything I could remember to try, but wound up spinning twice and smacking my rear end into the guard rail on a steep hill.

Now I need a new bumper and new tires. No one got hurt. So I think I was successful in that respect. But I have no idea how to regain control, and all the theories I have heard didn't work for me.

Help?

You did all the right things,,,sometimes nothing works on black ice...I was going very slow down a highway that was covered in black ice and out of the blue i started to spin very slowly,,,,I did 2 revolutions and ended up going the same way i was before i spun out...that was a very hairy trip..

Turn into the skid and pump the breaks and throw a prayer into Jesus.

1) open door
2) tuck
3) roll

slightly depress the brake and keep both hands on the steering wheel. slowly ease yourself out of the skid.

DO NOT HIT THE BRAKES!! DO NOT STEER!! just let go. my dad owned a body shop, that was THE most common accident!! and well i learned form peoples mistakes

Yeah You defiantly turn into it and pump the breaks :D and good luck

It's almost impossible to control a vehicle on ice. If your are driving an automatic, stay off the brake and steer slightly in the direction you want to go. Do not yank the wheel or over-correct your steering. If you are driving a standard, do the same thing but add down-shifting to a lower gear as you naturally decelerate.

You do NOT pump the brakes unless it's an old car on disc brakes. The newer cars use ABS (anti-lock braking system) and you never pump those. However, as I've said, lay off the brakes!!

Even the most experienced of winter drivers can't control what happens on "black ice". Depending on how fast you are going when you hit it you either have a SLOW MOTION spin or an out of control slammin' kind of spin in your car. You did all of the right things and you lived through the accident and that's the most important thing. Whew!

Absolutely don't hit the brakes. You pretty much have to let your car slide until it regains traction. Although, I add that, the aformentioned method have worked for me. I pray this doesn't happen to you again.Thankfully no one got hurt.

In driving school they taught us not to turn into the skid but to stop steering altogether (still hold onto the wheel but don't try to force your car in any specific direction). Also, pump the brakes several times to help slow your car rather than trying to stop it quickly by slamming your brakes on.

I live in Canada (lots of ice & snow) and this technique works for me everytime...

BTW - don't forget, when you're facing bad weather, it's important to give yourself extra time to get where you're going. Drive slowly and be super cautious of other drivers - there's always someone in a hurry.

Drive safely!

I live in Canada and we know how to drive on Ice. Lock up the wheels by holding down the breaks, steer in the diretcion you would like to go and then let off the brakes and the car will go in that direction.

don't step on the gas or brakes...just let the car reduce speed on it's own and if possible try to lightly guide the car off of the ice. If you oversteer you risk spinning the vehicle.

you may also want to lightly pump the brakes; however never steer and brake/accelerate at the same time.

turn the way your skidding and lightly accelerate

The theory you heard works when you have partial
traction, (SOME grip on the road).
On black ice unless you're barely moving, you've
got effectively NO traction.
The only thing that works on black ice is to avoid it completely
or cross it at walking speed. (Even then control is marginal.)
You've experienced it. You just got back on the road too fast.

Hit something...