As winter quickly approaches, the wonderful thoughts of the holiday season visit us more frequently. We can never forget how the newly laden snow made the landscape so beautiful, the nights we spent cuddling by the crackling fire, the anticipation and excitement of opening gifts on Christmas morning, and sledding down the steepest hill we could find. How warm and joyful those memories make us feel! But there is something else that we must never forget... The perils of winter driving! As the weather worsens and the snow piles up, driving becomes more and more dangerous. The roads become increasingly slippery due to snow and ice. Drivers who fail to use proper caution also cause problems. As much as we would like to stay at home for safety's sake, sometimes we must brave the elements and get behind the wheel. During these times, we must be properly prepared. Driving safely in snow requires a set of snow tires. Snow tires have a special tread pattern that helps our vehicle get more traction on snow and ice. Any tire store will have a good selection of snow tires to choose from. It is also a good idea to keep a bag of rock salt in your trunk. Rock salt can melt through a thin layer of snow or ice in just a few minutes, allowing your tires to contact the pavement. This can be helpful if your vehicle is stuck on a level surface with a thin layer of snow or ice on the ground. Simply spread some rock salt in front of and behind your pulling tires, wait a few minutes, and then pull out. Tire chains are a must have item for driving in the snow. But, they can only be used in certain conditions. Tire chains should be used if the snow completely covers the road. If there are patches of clear pavement, you could damage a hundred dollar set of tire chains if you drive with them on. Plus, if you wait to use the tire chains until after you are stuck, the installation could be very dangerous. A traction pad should also be in your trunk while driving. Traction pads are a great alternative to tire chains. They are portable, durable, and easy to use. They require no installation and can be easily stored until you need them. Traction pads can be used when rock salt will not work. They can also be used when there is not enough snow on the road to warrant installing tire chains. Thus, they are a good compromise between de-icing rock salt and snow tire chains. You should also carry survival items in your trunk too, like blankets, food, flares, etc., but that can be covered another day. In the meantime, let us reexamine our strategy for winter driving and be sure to have the essential traction devices in our possession at all times.
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