Driving Safely When the Snow Sticks

I learned to drive in wintry weather by growing up in Buffalo, which is the same thing as saying, "I learned to surf by growing up on the North Shore of Oahu." Freezing rain, fresh powder, whiteouts, downed branches coated with ice -- I've piloted a vehicle through almost every winter climatological situation.

Many Washington residents who are transplants from more temperate regions have not. Most of the area's snow falls during January and February, so get ready by considering the following advice from AAA's mid-Atlantic office and Car Guys in Rockville, which offers a semiannual course on hazardous driving geared toward teenagers ( http://www.decisivedriving.com).

Driving in winter is about physics and finesse, says John Townsend, manager of public and government affairs at AAA Mid-Atlantic.

"It's like a ballet," says Townsend, who lives in Prince George's County. "In other words, you almost have to become like an athlete: You don't want to be very tense, and you don't want to be overly confident. But you need to be in a zone. You need to be one with the vehicle. It has to be an extension of your limbs."

So read on. Keep it together. You'll be fine. But first and foremost: If you don't have to drive in wicked weather, stay the heck off the roads.

Before Hitting the Road

Have a snowbrush (with an ice scraper) in your trunk. I mean, obviously, right? But I've seen plenty of people trying to de-ice windshields with credit cards. Not effective.

Check your owner's manual, which may contain tips for driving your vehicle in snow and ice. "You will be surprised at the number of car owners who never look at those pages," Townsend says. "It is the last thing on their minds."

Pack an emergency kit and keep it in your vehicle throughout the winter: blankets, a sleeping bag, gloves, hats, wrapped nonperishable food (such as granola bars), bottled water, any medication you might need, a charged cellphone and the number for your insurance company's towing service or AAA. A sudden snowstorm can strand you, so be prepared for cold, hunger and the need to call for help.

Make certain your tires are properly inflated. Heck, do this regardless of the time of year.

Try to keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid running out of gas if you're snarled in traffic or stranded. (You need gas to keep the heat on, after all.) Also, this helps prevent a frozen gas line.

Practice. When it snows, find a nearby empty parking lot and get a feel for how your vehicle handles. Take note of how the brakes react on ice, how you need to alter or steady your steering on slick turns, and so on. "You have to learn it and feel it," says Aryan Azarsa, owner of Car Guys. "You can't sit behind a laptop and become a great driver. You actually have to do it."

Behind the Wheel

Slow down. Traction control, anti-lock brakes and ot her winter features are great, but they are no substitute for containing your speed. "People think anti-lock brakes are good for as fast as you go, but really it's only good up to 40 miles an hour," Azarsa says. "You may have traction control, but if you add too much speed, it's still rubber against asphalt."