The most important thing to remember about driving in snowy conditions is to keep your speed down.

I live in southwestern Ontario, between Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. A common weather problem here is drifting snow on the road, often over patches of black ice. If you're driving too fast, the tires lose their grip as soon as you hit the drifting snow, and the ice accelerates your sideways progress into the ditch. Or, if karma is determined to get you that day, into the oncoming traffic.

That's precisely what happened to my next-door neighbour last winter, on her way from Stratford to Kitchener on Perth County Road 43. She had two passengers with her, and only the car's robust design and safety equipment saved their lives.

By the way, "too fast" could be 25 kph below the speed limit, depending on conditions.