When driving on packed snow, how much should you reduce your speed?

When driving on packed snow, it is generally advisable to reduce your speed significantly to maintain control of the vehicle and ensure safety. Reducing your speed by half (1/2) allows for longer stopping distances, giving drivers more time to react if they need to stop or avoid an obstacle. Packed snow can create slippery conditions, which makes it harder to stop quickly or maintain control while navigating turns.

The choice to reduce speed by half balances the need for safety—allowing you to respond to the challenging conditions of packed snow, which can decrease traction. Other reduction percentages, while also safer than maintaining normal speeds, may not provide the same level of caution necessary when driving in such hazardous conditions. Therefore, halving your speed is a practical guideline for dealing safely with the risks on packed snow.