The snow wouldn't quit but it was Matt's birthday and we'd promised him dinner out. We should have known better -- around Lake Tahoe anyway.
Talk about white-knuckle driving. We inched along the highway wondering if we'd skid into the car in front of us before the one in back skidded into us. To make matters worse, there had been a foul-up at the car rental place and we didn't have a four-wheel drive car.
I'm glad to tell you we made it to the restaurant and back to the ski resort safely that night, albeit with a lot of back-seat whining. But I was never so cavalier about winter driving conditions again.
With AAA reporting that 25 percent of winter trips -- some 38 million -- will involve snow sports, and ski resorts reporting huge numbers of family visitors, it seems a lot of you will be in the same boat I was on that nasty night in the Sierras. Three-fourths of winter vacationers will be driving, AAA says.
To me that means the squabbling kids will be hampering your concentration, whining that they're hungry, carsick or just bored.
Many of you will be especially on edge since you're coming from places like Miami, Los Angeles or Dallas where you never see a snow flake, much less drive in a blinding snowstorm.
Even being a seasoned winter driver isn't always enough. We lived in Chicago at the time of our Tahoe escapade and certainly had driven plenty in snow and ice.
But winter mountain driving in blizzard conditions is a lot different than you'll encounter at home in most parts of the country.
Just ask Mark Cox. He runs the country's only winter driving school in Steamboat, Colo., teaching secret service and FBI agents, police and military officers, teenagers and folks like us on an ice-slicked course how to keep our cars on the road safely in the winter. The biggest mistake we out-of-town tourists make in snow country? We drive too fast, Cox says.
``It takes four to 10 times as long to stop on ice,'' he cautions. That means you need to allow double or more distance from the car in front of you than you would otherwise. SLOW DOWN! Decreasing the speed will give you more reaction time, especially on a mountain road.
Mistake No. 2: We don't look down the road enough. Anticipate tricky situations if you can. For example, take your foot off the brake before steering in the curve. ``Brake only when the car is traveling straight,'' Cox says.
Mistake No. 3: Getting on the road at all when the driving conditions are terrible. Listen to what the Highway Patrol says, winter travel experts urge.
``Consider not driving at all when the roads are bad,'' suggests Barb Jennings, spokeswoman for the Colorado Ski Industry.
Mistake No. 4: Overestimating the capability of four-wheel drive vehicles and anti-lock brake systems. If you're going too fast, even anti-lock brakes won't keep you on the road.
Mistake No. 5: Keeping the car too hot. Cool air not only makes you more alert, but will keep the windows clear of frost.
Drive with the lights on, too, Cox urges, whenever daytime visibility isn't good. ``Remember: Wipers On, Lights On,'' he says.
Low-beam lights provide better road illumination in snow and fog, AAA says. And make sure to stop frequently to clear off your head and tail lights.
Here are some other Winter Family Driving Smarts:
-- Insist that all kids 12 and under sit in the back, securely buckled in seat belts or safety seats. Although most Americans who have air bags (and even if you don't, your rental car probably will) say they know it's far safer for children to ride in the back, many still put infant seats in front, says the National Safety Council.
-- Bring books-on-tape (you can rent them from your local library or video store), music, art supplies and a few ``surprise'' new toys so the kids will be too busy to whine and distract you from the road. One reader suggested a roll of masking tape, so the kids could make designs on the back seat and, if necessary, divide their space.
-- Always have water bottles and snacks, including a few treats, easily accessible. The point here is to keep the kids occupied as much as possible.
-- In a skid, ease off the accelerator and carefully steer in the direction you want to go, AAA says. Watch out for other drivers who may not be prepared for the road conditions.
-- Be prepared in case you get stranded. Bring along a cell phone and adapter so you can plug it in to the car's cigarette lighter. Tie a brightly colored cloth around the antenna to signal distress and make sure the exhaust pipe isn't clogged. Blockage could cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
-- Your emergency kit should include jumper cables, flashlight with fresh batteries (there's nothing worse than a dead one when you need it most), first aid kit, ice scraper, roll of paper towels and if possible, a small shovel. Stop and buy a bag of salt or sand at a gas station before you get going.
-- Stash blankets, extra warm clothes, food, water and any needed medication in the car. Pillows from home will make the kids more comfortable.
-- Stay with the car if you're unexpectedly snowbound. You've got good temporary shelter and it's easier for rescuers to find you, explains Chuck Butler, director of AAA's Driver Safety Services. Never try to walk in a bad storm. It's too easy to get lost.
Haven't the kids been begging to build a snowman? Have a safe trip.
(Look for Eileen Ogintz's books from HarperCollins West: ``A Kid's Guide to Vacation Fun in the Rocky Mountains'' and, for parents, ``Are We There Yet?'')
(Send your questions and comments about family travel to Los Angeles Times Syndicate, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053 or e-mail to eogintz@aol.com. While every letter cannot be answered, some of your stories may be used in upcoming columns.)
(c) 1998, Eileen Ogintz. Dist. by Los Angeles Times Syndicate
