For many of us in Arizona, driving in snow and ice is not part of our daily routine in the winter. We enjoy a chill in the air without a drastic change in driving conditions. For those of us who venture up north to ski at Arizona Snowbowl, Sunrise or spend your holiday vacation in winter worn states to visit family, driving can become a heart-pounding experience. At our Phoenix personal injury law firm we regularly see accidents that were preventable with just a little know-how. Protect yourself and others from making novice errors by keeping a few simple tips in mind:

• Drive slowly, on icy roads your movements should be slower and thought out. Accelerate and decelerate gently. Double your braking time when coming to a stop.

• Don't punch the gas heading up hill. That will cause your wheels to spin and possible fish-tail. Try to build some momentum and use that to get up the hill. If possible, do not stop while going up a hill. At the top of the hill reduce your speed and travel down the hill as slowly as possible.

• Don't slam on your brakes. On an icy road slamming your brakes is dangerous and can cause you to go into a skid. Instead, keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply steady pressure to the brakes.

Remember:

A.R.S. § 29-701(A) states: A person shall not drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances, conditions and actual and potential hazards then existing.

Visit AAA's site at http://exchange.aaa.com/safety/roadway-safety/winter-driving-tips/ to find out more winter driving safety tips.