Winter Driving

With all the snow and ice poised to hit several areas of the country, we thought we'd repeat a couple of tips about winter driving.

1. If you don't have to drive over snow or ice, don't. Stay home if you can, leave work early, or do what you can to cut your driving to a minimum.

2. If you get stuck in a patch of ice and need to get out, the first thing to do is exercise caution. Don't get out to work on your stuck vehicle if other cars are driving through the same patch of ice. They may lose control and hit you.

3. The next thing you need to get unstuck from a slippery spot is a little traction. Carry a large bag of coarse sand (from your favorite lawn & garden or home improvement store) and a box of rock salt. Sprinkle some sand and salt against and behind or in front of your tires. Where ever it is you need the traction. Some people recommend carrying kitty litter, but to that we say NO! Most kitty litters are clay based and get rather slippery when wet. This will only add to your problem.

4. In case you may be stuck in a spot for a while in cold weather, make sure you have water, snacks, an extra blanket or two, and a cell phone charger in your car. You'll need to stay safe, warm, and in contact with either loved ones or emergency personnel until you can get going again safely.