Do This Not That When You Start Skidding On Ice In Your Car

El Paso doesn't get much winter weather but when we do we all act like lunatics in our vehicles. If you know how badly we drive in the rain, just wait until you see us driving in winter weather. January, February, and March are our coldest months and you'll see a lot of ice on the roads. If you didn't grow up in the Midwest and know how to drive in snow, slush, and ice, here are some things that might make getting around El Paso when we have a bit of treacherous driving conditions in the months ahead. According to Geico you should:

1. Make sure your car tires are properly inflated and have the proper amount of tread - Believe it or not, under or overinflated tires can affect your cars ability to properly stop in any kind of weather but especially bad weather. If you don't have enough tread then your tires won't have enough grip when you need to stop. Check your owner's manual or go online to find out the proper inflation and tread for your tires.

2. Be extra careful - You need to drive a little slower, a lot more carefully, and give yourself a lot of space between your vehicle and other vehicles around you. All that caution will give you the time and space you need to make any adjustments in case you get into trouble.

3. If you start to skid - Don't brake. That's the most important thing. Take your foot off the gas and don't brake. Using both hands on the wheel, very carefully steer into the skid, don't try to steer against it. The important thing is to do it slowly because if you jerk your steering wheel you'll overcorrect and might cause a harder skid or possibly a rollover.

You need to stay calm. I know that's easier said than done but you need to be in control of the car, not let it be in control of you.