- KNOW THE ROAD CONDITIONS. Before starting your trip, check weather forecasts and call the highway patrol for road conditions.
- IF YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT, don't. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. Don't tempt fate. If you don't have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors.
- LEAVE EARLY. If you do have to be on the road, give yourself plenty of time. Bad weather, combined with holidays, means traffic jams. Expect them, and leave a little early.
- ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE SLOWLY. Applying the gas slowly is the best method for maintaining traction and avoiding skids. Also, gradually slow down for stoplights. Remember, it takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
- SLOW DOWN. Be defensive, smart and drive slowly. Everything -- whether it's accelerating, stopping or turning -- takes longer on snow-covered roads than on dry pavement.
- DON'T TAILGATE. Triple the normal distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you. Increase your following distance to eight to 10 seconds to provide more room to stop.
- KNOW YOUR BRAKES. Whether or not you have antilock brakes, the best way to stop is threshold braking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor, and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
- DON'T STOP IF YOU CAN AVOID IT. It's a lot harder to overcome the inertia of a stopped vehicle than one that is still slowly rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
- DON'T POWER UP HILLS. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill, and let it carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill as slowly as possible.
- DON'T STOP WHILE GOING UPHILL. There are few things more difficult than trying to get moving uphill on an icy road.
- STEER INTO THE SKID IF YOU START TO SLIDE. This action can help you regain control of the vehicle.
- KEEP A SAFETY KIT IN YOUR CAR FOR EMERGENCIES. You'll be glad you did if you end up in an accident or stranded in freezing temperatures.
-- American Automobile Association and the Air Force Safety Center