As the deepest part of winter arrives, AAA suggests a number of winter-driving reminders to help us all get through the cold months.

- Increase your following distance. Build in a six-second time gap. Pick a marker or sign and begin counting when the car ahead passes it -- "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two..."

- Improve visibility. Clear snow and ice from the entire car. Brush away snow from the hood, roof, trunk, turn signals, lights, windows, mirrors, and fender wells.

- Drive with headlights on low-beam. Lights at low-beam provide better road illumination in snow and fog than do high-beams.

- Slow down in bad weather. Remember, posted speed limits are set for ideal road and weather conditions.

- Avoid sudden starts, stops and turns. Accelerate carefully so car wheels don't spin.

- Apply brakes firmly. The best technique for braking on ice or snow is "threshold" or "squeeze" braking. Apply brakes firmly to a point just short of lock-up and ease off the brake pedal slightly.

- Steady pressure is better than "pumping" the brakes. For anti-lock brakes, continuous firm braking is recommended. Refer to your owner's manual for proper procedure.

- In a skid, ease off the accelerator. Carefully steer in the direction you want the car to go and straighten the wheel as soon as the car begins to go in the desired direction.

- Anticipate danger. Be on the lookout for ice on bridges, snow-covered lane markings, stalled cars and poor visibility. Watch for drivers who are unprepared for changing road conditions.

In addition, it is important to stay on top of vehicle maintenance issues, so that you won't be left stranded. Tire inflation pressures still need to be checked on a monthly basis. If the car battery is more than three years old, have it checked - a load test is the best way.

Windshield wiper blades should be replaced yearly. Carry a spare jug of windshield washer fluid in the car and try to keep the gas tank above one-half full. This helps to minimize condensation of water in the gas tank, as well as making sure that you can get through most bad traffic situations without running out of gas.

Lastly, a martial arts philosophy suggests that the best way to avoid a punch is not to be there in the first place, so don't travel in bad weather unless it is absolutely necessary.