By Kate Renner

EUGENE, Ore. -- The way you handle the icy roads could be a matter of life or death.

The most common types of accidents on the road Monday were cars that spun out due to driving too fast.

Oregon State Police troopers say once you lose control, your brakes can't help you and you're going to slide until you stop.

So the first mistake is speed.

The other mistake is once the roads have been plowe, drivers don't see the ice underneath.

Also don't be fooled if your car or truck has four-wheel drive.

"The people that we see lose control of their vehicles are trucks, four-wheel drive type vehicles, small SUVs. That's the biggest mistake is believing that they can do the same speed they can during the dry, sunny weather," said OSP Sgt. Alan Gilbert.

Sgt. Gilbert says the best thing you can do is leave with plenty of time, keep distance between you and the cars in front of you and slow down.

They say just because the speed limit says it's 55, doesn't mean it's okay to go 55.

In inclement weather troopers can give out speeding tickets even if you're going the speed limit if conditions are bad enough.

Photo courtesy of OSP.