You were given bad advice.. Although it’s a really bad idea to go flying down a snow/ice covered mountain empty then applying full jakes 
I spent most of my life in the NE and I just don’t remember any mountains worth worrying about..
Side note about winter driving, if you encounter fog and the temperature outside is at or near freezing you better be paying attention. Definitely don’t use cruise control. And yes, overpasses do freeze before roads do..
