With the joy of the holiday season comes the less joyous onset of ice, snow and sleet (unless you live in FL…in which case, can we come over?)

Yesterday, a friend of ours slid his monster truck into a ditch. Luckily, no injuries other than being stuck in 4 feet of snow. Made us wonder….do we stand a chance against the elements in our little 4-door sedan?

As such, we’re putting together some tips for driving safely in this miserable lovely weather.

1) Buckle up. No, seriously.

2) Accelerate/ decelerate slowly. When you see that red stoplight, stop slowly to allow for traction and to avoid skidding. When it’s time to get going again, accelerate slowly.

3) If you get stuck, don’t let your wheels keep churning – you’ll just dig yourself deeper into the snowy oblivion (trust me on this one). Instead, turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way. Then, lightly touch the gas and ease your car out. Still suck? Get your shovel and some sand.

4) Do NOT use cruise control.

5) Make sure you have at least 1/2 a tank of gas, a ice scrapper, an extra tire and a cell phone. For good measure, keep a blanket or extra clothes in the trunk. If you ever get stuck in the snow, you’ll be thankful you did.