Gripping the wheel with both hands and easing his black sedan around a snow-covered parking lot, instructor Richard Elias demonstrates his most important rule for winter driving.

"The number one thing is reduce your speed," said Elias, owner of Elias Driver Training School in Butler. "It's going to take you longer to get to your destination, but you have to be prepared for that."

The highest number of weather-related injuries and fatalities occur during the winter, according to Lt. Myra Taylor, director of the public information office of the Pennsylvania State Police.

In any weather conditions, taking precautions and being prepared will significantly reduce the risk of accidents, Elias said.

"Surprises are a bad thing behind the wheel of a car," he said.

To steer clear of potential problems, PennDOT spokesman Steve Chizmar recommends motorists get their cars checked by a mechanic before the first snowflake hits the ground.

"Motorists have to know their cars," Chizmar said. "It may sound simplistic but you have to know how your vehicle responds in the winter."

In poor conditions, drivers shouldn't rely on the posted speed limits, Chizmar added, since they are established with ideal conditions in mind.

In addition to slowing down, motorists should increase the following distance when behind other vehicles, Elias said.

Elias teaches his students the four-second rule, which allows at least four seconds of reaction time between cars on the highway.

"That's true in good weather, but in inclement weather, the four-second rule becomes the six-second rule or even the eight-second rule," he said.

To estimate how much time separates cars, Elias recommends drivers choose a reference point such as a telephone pole and count the seconds themselves.

Most vehicles can be driven without difficulty in the winter as long as the driver is comfortable with the car, Elias said, adding that no vehicle is necessarily superior.

All year round, Elias recommends front-wheel drive sedans for new drivers because they are more stable than SUVs or trucks.

"Pickup trucks are notoriously known for being unstable in bad weather conditions unless they're weighted down," Elias said. "Unless you put a truck in four-wheel drive, it is not as secure."

Elias recommends using four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive as soon as the vehicle starts slipping.

"As soon as you start spinning or losing traction in your vehicle, four-wheel drive is a must," he said.

Still, those with all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive vehicles might have a false sense of security, Chizmar said.

"All-wheel drive or four-wheel drive may help you go through snow a lot easier, but it doesn't do a lot to help you stop on ice," he said.

Drivers also should avoid making sudden stops or accelerating rapidly, which can cause skids, Elias said.

"We want to teach our drivers to be smooth drivers: easy on the gas, easy on the brake, easy on the steering," he said. "If you can teach somebody to drive that way, they can drive on any conditions on the road."

In the past, beginning drivers were taught to steer in the direction of a skid, but Elias said correcting the vehicle is not so complicated.

"All you have to do is steer the car in the direction you want the car to go in," he said. "If the car goes off to the right, keep steering to the left."

Drivers with antilock brakes can press down firmly, but those with traditional brakes should pump them gently to avoid skidding in the first place, Elias said.

Tires also must be in good condition, but they need not be snow tires, Elias said.

"I think all-weather tires with front wheel drive work quite well," he said. "The key to it is having all-weather tires, all around, so you have good traction."

Snowplows and salt trucks help make roads safer, but drivers should keep alert around removal equipment, according to Taylor.

When following a snowplow, Taylor advises motorists stay 15 car lengths behind until it is safe to pass or until the snowplow pulls off the road.

Drivers also should be aware that a snowplow driver's field of vision is very limited and equipment travels slowly and might make sudden movements, Taylor said.

In the event of a crisis, Chizmar advises all motorists to pack an emergency kit and keep it in their vehicle.

"Motorists have to take into account the passengers they'll be hauling on their journey and pack things like pet food, baby supplies or extra medications," Chizmar said.

A full tank of gas is ideal, Elias said, and drivers should not allow the car to go below half a tank.

"The added weight of the liquid gas in your fuel tank will give you added traction and stability," he said.

When severe weather is forecast, it is best to avoid the road altogether, Chizmar said.

"The best advice that we can really offer is that if you know winter precipitation is coming, postpone your travels if you can," Chizmar said. "It's best to delay your travels when possible and if you must drive, you really have to allow extra time."

Motorists should prepare a winter emergency kit, according to Lt. Myra Taylor, director of the public information office of the Pennsylvania State Police.Before hitting the road, Taylor also recommends checking road and weather conditions at www.psp.state.ps.us or www.511pa.com.Emergency kits should include the following items:• Ice scraper• Snow brush• Small shovel• Tow chain• Jumper cables• Blanket, gloves, boots and other warm clothes• Flashlight,• Food, water• First aid kit• Extra batteries• Road flares• Emergency cash