Winter may be a wonderland for some, but for most drivers, sub-freezing cold, snow and ice often make for conditions that quickly escalate from merely challenging to downright dangerous. We’ve all heard winter-driving advice before, but, with the idea that we might need a reminder, we talked with Mark Cox, director of the Bridgestone Winter Driving School, who offered the following information:

Vehicle Preparation: Simple car problems in summer can pose dangers in winter. A marginal battery that may easily start a car in warm weather can be taxed to the point of not having enough power to even crank the engine in severe cold, and leave you stranded. Poorly performing brakes could fail to stop your vehicle in time, or worse, cause a spinout if your car’s brakes grab the road excessively. Worn suspension components could also cause a spinout. In other words, winter conditions demand that we properly maintain our vehicle for survival, so have your battery, brakes and suspension parts checked by a mechanic.

Tires: There is probably no more vital component to winter driving than having proper tires on your vehicle. If you have all-season tires, you’re probably deluding yourself if you think they’ll be okay during the winter. In snow deeper than an inch, all-season tires become practically useless. There is no substitute for a radial snow tire (on all four wheels for balanced handling) when driving in snow and ice. Snow tires have aggressive tread patterns designed to bite into snow, offering superior traction, sometimes as much as 50 percent better than all-season tires. Also, numerous tests show that snow tires grip ice better. Additionally, snow tires’ rubber compounds are designed to stay pliable in cold conditions, helping to maintain grip.

Following distance: It’s important to allow an even greater following distance in ice and snow than in clear driving conditions, especially if you don’t have snow tires. A car with snow tires can stop 50 percent quicker than a car with all-season tires, meaning that you’ll have to maintain extra distance to allow for the poor traction of your all-season tires in winter road conditions.

Braking: It’s important to know what type of braking system your vehicle has, so that you’ll use the proper braking technique. With anti-lock brakes, you should press the pedal and maintain pressure as the system electronically “pumps” the brakes, so that you can maintain moderate levels of traction and steering control. Non-antilock brakes dictate that you pump the brakes with your foot if you begin to lose traction to maintain tire rotation and control. Also, when traction is poor, it’s best to keep functions separate when driving: Brake when driving in a straight line, rather than when you’re making a turn. Braking and turning at the same time could overwhelm available traction on your vehicle’s tires, causing you to lose control. So, make sure you slow down way before a turn and drive through the corner without using your brakes.

Intersections and hills: The slickest portion of snow- and ice-covered roads tends to be at intersections and on hills. Cars sitting at a stoplight exert a lot of heat, melting the top layer of snow and ice, with the water refreezing into a polished sheet that often is very slippery. On hills, spinning tires have the same polishing effect, reducing traction. Be aware of these situations and do your braking or (gentle) accelerating before you reach these areas.

SUVs: Many drivers think four-wheel-drive-equipped SUVs make them invincible in poor traction conditions. While an SUV’s drive system might improve your ability to drive away from a standstill, the vehicle has no greater stopping or cornering ability compared to a car. In fact, SUVs, due to their high center of gravity and short wheelbase, have handling deficiencies in regular driving conditions that make them even more dangerous to drive in snow and ice. An SUV can easily slide sideways in low traction situations; striking a curb or some road imperfection while sliding could cause a rollover. With many drivers failing to wear seatbelts in these big vehicles due to their perceived strength, a rollover crash would send passengers hurtling through the interior. Remember, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine was severely injured in an SUV crash because he wasn’t wearing his seat belt.

In severe winter conditions, the best driving advice is to stay put. If you don’t have to go out, don’t. If you absolutely must drive, the watch words for winter are “slow” and “down.” Getting to a destination behind schedule is better than not getting there at all. Stay safe.