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Before winter weather arrives, make sure your vehicle is in good condition. Make sure your vehi- cle has good snow tires. Put them on the vehicle before the first storm. Never combine radial and non-radial tires on the same vehicle. Tires with metal studs can be used in New York State only from October 16 through April 30. 

During ice or snow storms, do not drive unless you must. If you must drive, first clear the ice and snow from your vehicle. This includes the headlights and back lights, the windshield wipers and all of the windows. Make sure the windshield washer reservoir is filled with a cleaning solution that resists freezing. 

Drive slowly. Even if your vehicle has good trac- tion in ice and snow, other drivers will travel with caution. Do not break the flow of traffic by driving faster than other vehicles. 

In a rear-wheel drive vehicle, you can normally feel a loss of traction or the start of a slide. With a front-wheel drive vehicle, there might not be a warning. Although front-wheel drive and four- wheel drive vehicles normally handle better in ice and snow, they do not have flawless traction; skids can occur without a warning. Do not let the ability to better handle a front-wheel drive or four- wheel drive vehicle make you drive faster than the conditions dictate. 

The best method to recover from a skid is the same for both front and rear wheel drive vehicles. 

## If your rear wheels start to skid: 

• Turn the steering wheel in the direction the vehicle is trying to go. If your rear wheels slide left, steer left. If they slide right, steer right. 

• If your rear wheels start to slide in the other direction as you recover, turn the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to turn the wheel left and right several times to get your vehicle completely controlled. 

• If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS), keep your foot with even pressure on the brake pedal. If your vehicle does not have ABS, pump the pedal carefully. Pump more 

rapidly only as your car slows down. If you brake hard with regular brakes, it will make the situation worse. 

## If your front wheels skid: 

• Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral or push in the clutch, but do not try to immediately steer. 

• As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As trac- tion returns, turn the wheel in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in “drive” or release the clutch and accelerate carefully. 

To prevent skids on snow and ice, brake early, carefully and gently. “Press” your brakes in slow, steady strokes. Allow the wheels to keep turning. If they begin to lock, decrease pressure on the brake pedal. As your vehicle decreases speed, you can also shift into a lower gear. 

When sleet, freezing rain or snow begin to fall, remember that bridges, ramps and overpasses will freeze first. Also know that slippery spots may re- main after road workers have removed the snow. 

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## HOW TO AVOID COLLISIONS WITH DEER 

Two-thirds of all deer-vehicle collisions occur during the months of October, November and December. This is also the time when deer breed and when they travel the most. Daily deer activity is highest at dawn and dusk, which often is the highest time of travel for motor-vehicle com- muters. Deer travel in groups – if you see one, expect more. Areas where there have been many deer-vehicle collisions often are marked with 

