Cold weather often sends many people to frozen lakes and ponds.

It doesn’t take an expert to say there are risks involved, but knowing the thickness of the ice can help you make an informed decision.

For example, just four inches of ice is generally safe enough for someone to walk on. But these are guidelines only. Local conditions and the type of water underneath (river, lake or sea ice) will affect the strength of the ice.

Watch the video above to learn more about how much ice we need to drive on it.