Driving safely in winter weather Published Dec. 4, 2008 By 375th Airlift Wing Safety Office SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Snow, ice and extreme cold can make holiday driving treacherous. With winter's arrival it is important to have winter maintenance preformed on your car. Winter maintenance involves checking the level of antifreeze, making sure the battery is good and checking tire treads or putting on snow tires. An emergency kit should also be kept in every car. Recommend kit items are: a flashlight with extra batteries, jumper cables, sand or kitty litter (for traction), an ice scraper, a snow brush, a small shovel, blankets and warning devices (e.g., flares, reflectors). Additionally for long car trips supplies of food, water, extra blankets and required medication are recommended. When planning a winter trip there are individual precaution a person needs to consider. -Avoid driving in snow or ice storms, if it is a must to travel in bad weather, drive slowly. -Carry a cell phone or let someone know what route will be travelled as well as an estimated time of arrival so authorities can be alerted. -Don't sit in a parked car with the engine running unless a window is open. A car engine should not be turned on while parked in a garage. -If a car stalls or gets stuck in snow, turn hazard lights on and light two flares, place one at each end of the car, a safe distance away. Ensure snow has not blocked the exhaust pipe. Then stay inside of the vehicle and open a window slightly to let in fresh air. To stay warm, use blankets and run the vehicle's heater for a few minutes every hour. Proper preparation is the key to safe holiday travel.