Written By Michelle Kodis

When driving through western Colorado, Utah and New Mexico it is important to not only be on the lookout for beautiful scenery and geographical wonders, but also for the weather, which can change quickly and make driving more challenging.

A little know-how about how to deal with winter or wet road conditions goes a long way, says driving expert Mike McGovern. When traveling in slick road conditions, McGovern says understanding how to correct front and rear-wheel skids is crucial.

With a front-wheel skid (also called an understeer), the correction involves letting up on the gas and then adding some brake (not too much) to put more weight down on the front tires and thus improve tire contact with the pavement. With a rear-wheel skid (an oversteer), try to steer into the slide, let up off the brake, and add a little power. McGovern explains, "Once you get traction, there is a little pause when the car is ready to come back into a good direction. At that point, unwind the steering wheel back to a straight position and steer out of the slide." He adds, "In general, any time you add gas, brake or steer, try to make those movements as smooth as possible. That way you can avoid abrupt inputs, which can upset the balance of the car."

It is also important for the driver to look where he or she wants to go. Says McGovern, It's called "target fixation". Avoid looking at the telephone pole, the snow bank, another car, or at whatever you are trying to avoid and focus instead on where you want the car to end up.

McGovern advises looking beyond the car that is directly in front of you. Instead, look five to six cars down the road to better prepare yourself for what is happening ahead of your vehicle. Another important tip: a car will turn better than it will stop. If possible, try to maneuver the car around a potential accident situation or an obstacle rather than attempting to brake directly in front of it.

Year-round, it is wise to keep your automobile stocked with things you might need in an emergency. Those essentials include water, food, blankets, flares, jumper cables, plastic rain gear, an umbrella and what have become modern-day necessities of road safety: the cellular phone and GPS.

For more information about how to drive safely in all conditions, call the Bondurant School at (800) 842-7223.