WINTER DRIVING DO'S AND DON'TS

                              Automobile club AAA advises drivers to be attentive and cautious as the winter weather turns everyday routes into obstacles.  Prepare your vehicle --- and yourself ---- to drive at speeds that match the prevailing visibility, traffic and road conditions, stated AAA officials.
                              "Caution becomes the operative watchword," said Rick Remington, manager of public and goverment affairs for AAA-Mid-Atlantic.  "Slick roads are a danger to every vehicle.  AAA reminds drivers to slow down and increase their following distance."
                              Winter driving poses several risks, Remington continued.  To stay safe, refresh your memory about winter do's and don'ts.

• Do prepare your vehicle for cold weather.  For example, AAA advises that you or your mechanic check your vehicle's battery, ignition system, lights, brakes, tires, exhaust system and windshield wipers to be sure all are in good working order.
• Do allow extra time to reach your destination.  Rushing on slippery roads creates risks for you, your passengers and fellow motorists.
• Do brake appropriately during inclement weather.  If you have antilock brakes (ABS) and your starting to skid on ice or snow, "stomp" on your brake, after which you'll feel the pulses in the pedal and/or hear the ABS kick in.  Then ease up slightly on the brake pedal until the pulsing occurs only once a second, advised Mac Demere, a contributing writer for automobile website Edmunds.com.   If you're skidding in a vehicle without ABS, push the brake hard until your wheels stop.  "Then immediately release the brake enough to allow the wheels to begin turning again.  Repeat this sequence rapidly," advised Demere.  Note, this is not the same thng as pumping the brake.  Demere advised practicing these techniques before you head out onto slick surfaces.
• Do dress as if you were going to be stranded.  Think of how cold you'd be in your car if it were stuck on the side of the road while you awaited help.  Also pack an extra blanket or two.
• Do pack an emergency kit that includes an ice scraper and brush, shovel, sand or kitty litter (to throw under tires to give traction when needed), towel, coat, gloves, cell phone and charger, flashlight with extra batteries, first-aid kit, battery booster cables, emergency flares or reflectors, and extra food and drinking water.
• Don't change lanes excessively.  When on a snow-covered highway, stay in the lane that has been cleared most recently.  Changing lanes over built-up snow between lanes can cause you to loose control of your vehicle.
• Do use major routes.  After it snows, major roads are cleared and treated first.  Avoid secondary roads when possible.
• Don't drive in four-wheel-drive (4WD) mode during inclement weather.  Sure, 4WD will get you going faster and easier, but it doesn't provide an advantage in stopping.
• Don't use cruise control during bad weather.  Cruise control prevents you from having total control over your vehicle.
• Do check your vehicle's manual to determine the manufacture's recommended levels for tire pressure, and then fill your tires to that level.  Remember, cold weather reduces tire inflation pressure.
• Don't panic.  If your vehicle skids out of control, steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go, stated AAA.  This will help you regain control of your vehicle.