Winter is here whether we like it or not. Some of us are in love with the snow-powdered landscape while others of us cannot wait for spring.

Regardless of what our opinion of it is, we all at some point or another have to venture out into the great white outdoors. Even with hard-working snowplow drivers out in full force, western New York still sports slippery roads and white out conditions. The combination can prove deadly and no matter how careful drivers are even the best can lose control on the slick highways. Orchard Park Police Officer Robert Cirbus says, “The only thing that will keep you out of the ditch if you lose control is if you have four-wheel-drive. And sometimes that doesn’t even work.”

Obviously we all want to keep from being stranded in a drift or stuck in a ditch. But, as always, we should be prepared for the worst - just in case. Prepare a ’winter survival kit’ to keep in your vehicle at all times in case of an emergency. Even if you never have to use it you will know it’s there and it will give you peace of mind.

- Ice scrapers are essential tools for the car even if you’re not even in trouble. Just getting out of the driveway in the morning or out of the parking lot at work in the evening requires you to be able to see the road, but sometimes the snow and ice that accumulates on the car during the day or night can be stubborn and very hard to remove.

- Spread a blanket out on the back seat. If you get stuck you aren’t guaranteed access to your trunk. It can be extremely difficult or even impossible to get to the back of your car if you are stranded and a warm blanket will do no good in the trunk if you are freezing in the driver’s seat.

- Keep an emergency stock of non-perishable, easy-to-open foods in a bag or box somewhere handy in the car. Granola bars, juice boxes, crackers and beef jerky will keep your energy up
and help you weather out the storm if need be.

- Put a flashlight full of working batteries as well as extra batteries in the glove compartment. Don’t count on your car lights working after an accident.

- Buy some flares and keep a stash with you in the car. If you are stranded in a ditch or snowdrift in the dark you need a way to let fellow drivers (not to mention the snow plow drivers - who may bury you in farther if you don’t watch out) know you’re there.

- If you have roadside assistance with a company like AAA, make a copy of your membership card and emergency phone numbers and keep them somewhere safe in your car, even if you have the original in your purse or wallet.

- In addition, you may want to keep other items like shovels, small bags of sand for leverage, cash, first aid kits and a change of clothes, warm gloves and boots on hand in your vehicle, not to mention car tools like a tire gauge, jack and jumper cables.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Hope for the best, take your time and drive as carefully as you can during these wintery months - but always be prepared for the worst.

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