Yes.

There are techniques of driving in the snow (counter steering, braking, hand braking, throttle changes, downshifts), but we're talking hydroplaning (aquaplaning in Europe) here.

Again,....if you hit a standing water on the motorway, your tires WILL loose some traction no matter what. Depending on the tire depth, vehicle speed, and the amount of water, you might loose traction COMPLETELY for some time. The best thing to do is NOTHING. Hold the steering wheel steady, with no inputs, no clutching (on the manuals) ,....meaning no downshifting either, no brakes, and GENTLY let go of the throttle. That's a best "technique" I learned. We could argue until the "cows come home", but this is what I've been doing for several decades, on the roads all over the world. The fact that I'm typing this proves that it works! ;)

I learned to drive in the snow, on the frozen Minnesota lakes. Wide open, generally flat area, covered with snow, and sometimes a layer of water (at the end of snow season in March), on which one can practice without the fear of traffic, and loss of control. Driving on the frozen lake, will accurately teach you which input from you, has what effect on the direction of travel, and doing that every winter WILL teach you how to brake in the emergency, how to swerve around obstacles, and how to change the direction, by applying the right amount of steering or brakes (or handbrakes). Some moves are basic and constant on every vehicle, some change with the change of vehicle. Every time I bought a new vehicle, I would drive it on the lake at the first opportunity, to learn what it does in the snow.

Drove Audi Quatros back then, picked specifically for their AWD capability. They were great! However, X5 drive line is LIGHT years ahead of that 80s technology. I have no problem with the X in the snow, sleet and rain.

As far as driving on the lakes,.......some of you will probably scream foul, but that's what people that live by the large body of frozen water do! I grew up on the lake, and we (the locals) make a "short cut" across the lake to our homes. Even delivery trucks (UPS, Fedex) use it in the dead of the winter. The thickness of the ice in the peak season (January) is about 8-10 feet. There are sonars to check the thickness of the ice, and the oldtimers know just by observing the nature. Every year few people die from their vehicle braking through the ice (usually snowmobile drivers late in the season). So I am NOT advising anyone to travel to MN and try this, unless you have some local friends that can guide you.

I would love to do it for you guys (;) ), but I moved into the warmer climate over a decade ago!