Ten tips for safe winter driving from the National Safety Council

1. Respect the winter weather. Plan extra time for a trip in the winter. A trip that might take 30 minutes in May might take 45 minutes or an hour in the winter.
2. Wear safety belts no matter what season it is. Make it a rule: everyone must be buckled up before the vehicle moves.
3. Don't drink and drive. Remember that reaction time is reduced in hazardous conditions.
4. Winterize the vehicle's safety kit. The kit should include items such as a blanket, a small shovel to dig out snow, sand to help get traction if needed, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, jumper cables, ice scraper/brush and lock deicer.
5. Conduct a pre-trip inspection. Check the antifreeze. Make sure the vehicle has proper tires to handle the weather. Be sure the car has enough gas for each trip. Windshield wipers must be in good shape to handle snow and ice. Remember to first unstick them from the frozen glass.
6. Be ready for changing conditions. If possible, make sure the car has good, all-season tires that can handle different types of weather. Check with a auto mechanic or a professional at a tire store to discuss tire options. In high snow and ice areas, cars may need more than all-season tires.
7. Don't get SUV overconfidence. While a sport-utility vehicle might get through some tough conditions more easily, it won't stop more quickly, and it may roll over if turns are made too fast.
8. Know how to react to trouble. If the car has antilock brakes, don't pump them. Press them down as hard as you can. If the car goes into a skid, turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the front of the car to go; that will keep the vehicle from skidding out of control. Then prepare to counter steer two or three times.
9. Leave some space. Follow the three-second rule. After the vehicle in front of you passes a stationary object, you should be able to count for three seconds before your vehicle passes the same object. Add one more second for each driving condition that deteriorates.
10. Defuse road rage. One-fourth of drivers in a recent American Automobile Association survey admitted they have expressed anger at other drivers. To avoid becoming a road-rage statistic, leave more room between yourself and other drivers. Stay out of the left lane if you're going slow. And don't play games on the road.