There has been a very recent fatality and several near-fatalities this month in Maine due to walking, skating, and/or driving on ice: DO NOT DO IT unless you are SURE that you are walking or skating on at least 4 inches of ice; snowmobiling on at least 5; driving an average-size passenger car on 8-12, or driving a truck on 12-to-15 inches. Those are government numbers, not mine.
In fact, Maine officials do not recommend driving passenger cars or trucks onto frozen ponds or lakes, period! They say that, if you must drive a vehicle on that ice, be prepared to leave the vehicle in a hurry through its windows, which should be kept open when driving on such ice. Also, unbuckle your seat belt, pack flotation gear, and have an emergency plan discussed with your passengers before driving onto frozen bodies of water.
I’ll add this: Don’t take your dog when driving on pond or lake ice. If things go sideways, an excited dog can make your escape difficult and, of course, you’ll be seriously tempted to stay in the freezing water longer than necessary to save a thrashing, beloved pet. Also, ponds can be deceivingly deep; don’t assume that you or your vehicle won’t sink entirely below water. For example, the field pond shown here is 14 feet deep in most of the middle area. (Image taken in Brooklin, Maine, on January 10, 2023.)