The first and best advice one can offer for winter driving is don't. Unless you absolutely must be driving in hazardous winter conditions, please stay at home and enjoy the snow from the comfort of your lazy-boy.

For those of you who must, or insist on driving in winter conditions, it is on you to be prepared and educated in the proper driving techniques. The first thing we shall address is training. Not many people do so, but there are many programs available for those interested in getting additional driver training. These courses or car clinics, are seldom more than a few hundred dollars, and worth every blessed penny.

One such program I helped operate for a few seasons.So let us explore some of the basic details for safe winter driving.

Vehicle preparation

• Get a winter tune up; This usually includes proper lubrication of joints and addition of antifreeze to your coolant.
• Winter tires; Use of winter tires will help greatly in winter driving, however in most cases all season tires in good condition will suffice. Ensure proper tire inflation levels.
• Fluids; Ensure you are carrying a surplus of winter windshield washer fluid. Many accidents could have been avoided has this advice been followed.
• Snow brush/scraper; Carrying more than one of these in your trunk can be a lifesaver. Plastic scrapers are cheap and prone to breakage when cold.
• Safety equipment; In addition to a first aid kit, one should always have a winter survival pack when driving in the winter months. include in your pack

1. road flares
2. warm blanket(s)
3. collapsible shovel
4. 5kg of sand/salt mixture
5. booster cables
6. tow straps (see owners manual for proper tow straps)
7. flashlight (preferably crank style)
8. Dark chocolate bars

Driver preparation

Now that we have explored some of the mechanical aspects of winter driving, let us indulge in the ever unpopular, personal development.

Most people behind the wheel completely take for granted the act of driving. After driving for 20 years many people would consider themselves experts, but the sad fact is that they are not. The problem being that driving has become so routine, that we allow our attention to be diverted to more entertaining things. The song on the radio perhaps. Maybe this months issue of Cosmo has got your attention. You might even have that no good, cheating, SOB boyfriend on the phone, and he needs a good holler.

No matter the reason, when something out of the ordinary happens, we must take the time to divert our attention from what we are doing and focus on the problem at hand. Though the following advice should apply to all driving conditions, I must assert that special precaution be taken during periods of bad weather.

Turn off your radio, put down the cell phone and focus on what your are doing. Remember, you are driving a 1-2 tonne piece of metal and glass at upwards of 40 miles/hr. Perhaps a little respect for physics is in order :)

Skid control

There are several aspects of a skid that must be explored and carefully reviewed in order to drive perfectly. However, we are not all perfect<insert humble cough here> so lets focus on the skills of the average driver.

• Turn into the skid; This rule is paramount when pulling yourself out of a skid. To simplify this rule, steer where you want to go. You want the car to face the direction the car is moving, so turn your wheels in that direction
• Keep your eyes up; Keep your eyes away from the hood of your car. Make sure you are looking up and somewhat ahead of your vehicle
• Look where you want to go; Seems simple enough, however after years of training the average driver, I have noticed that in the event of a skid people tend to look at the steering wheel or the car ahead of them. If you are skidding towards another vehicle, look at the nice clear spot next to them. Your movements will follow your eyes so keep your eyes where they should be
• Don't panic; Easier said than done, agreed. However, you tend to lose control of motor functions and reason when you begin to panic. Stay calm and cool, and you will likely be able to pull yourself out of skid

Braking

Here is where I have met a lot of resistance from many participants in skid control clinics. Most drivers follow outdated protocols for braking that no longer apply to modern vehicles.

Whether or not your vehicle is equipped with ABS brakes, for the love of all that is good and happy in this world, do not pump your brakes. This method is called "cadence" braking and was employed in the days before ABS brakes to help stop ones wheels from locking up in aggressive braking situations. This technique never has and never will be a safe braking practice for winter conditions.

Instead of pumping your brakes, depress your brake peddle until your feel the tires may begin to slide, then back off the peddle slightly to prevent skidding. Aptly named "threshold braking", this technique will allow you greater control of your braking and reduce your stopping distance. If you feel at all like panicking in a skid, you are best of not using your brakes at all.

Practice makes perfect

The best advice I can offer anyone participating in the foolish pastime of winter driving, is to go skidding. That's right, I want you to deliberately put your car into a skid as often as you can afford. This will help you become familiar with skidding and prevent you from panicking should a real skid occur.

A common practice for me is to visit the nearest empty parking lot (and I do mean completely empty), and bring my vehicle up to approx 45 kph (approx 28mph) and push the threshold of the brakes. I will both develop a feel for the braking threshold and practice correcting skids. In addition to this, when embarking on a trip, I will test my braking distance on every road I travel (if traffic allows). I do this much in the same method as the parking lot, though being extremely careful never to actually go into a skid. If you begin to slip while testing your braking distance, take your foot off the bloody brake.

!!Please note!! Though safety is always first, and you should find a way to practice no matter what, please check with your local authorities so that you do not break any laws while practicing your braking. If you can not afford to visit a skid control clinic, I suggest you talk to your local police department to find out where would be an acceptable place to practice your skid control. Be sure to mention that this is for your safety as well as others on the road.

For some excellent winter driving etiquette and safety, please visit fellow Canadian hubber Andy Xie's article on Winter Driving Safety Tips 

Happy driving everyone, but please remember, if you don't need to go, don't. Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and laugh at all the suckers stuck on the road. :)

Scott