Driver’s Manual | 61 Before winter weather arrives, make sure your  vehicle is in good condition. Make sure your vehi- cle has good snow tires. Put them on the vehicle  before the first storm. Never combine radial and  non-radial tires on the same vehicle. Tires with metal studs can be used in New York State only  from October 16 through April 30. During ice or snow storms, do not drive unless  you must. If you must drive, first clear the ice  and snow from your vehicle. This includes the  headlights and back lights, the windshield wipers  and all of the windows. Make sure the windshield  washer reservoir is filled with a cleaning solution  that resists freezing. Drive slowly. Even if your vehicle has good trac- tion in ice and snow, other drivers will travel with  caution. Do not break the flow of traffic by driving  faster than other vehicles. In a rear-wheel drive vehicle, you can normally  feel a loss of traction or the start of a slide. With  a front-wheel drive vehicle, there might not be  a warning. Although front-wheel drive and four- wheel drive vehicles normally handle better in  ice and snow, they do not have flawless traction;  skids can occur without a warning. Do not let the  ability to better handle a front-wheel drive or four- wheel drive vehicle make you drive faster than  the conditions dictate. The best method to recover from a skid is the  same for both front and rear wheel drive vehicles. rapidly only as your car slows down. If you  brake hard with regular brakes, it will make  the situation worse. To prevent skids on snow and ice, brake early,  carefully and gently. “Press” your brakes in slow,  steady strokes. Allow the wheels to keep turning.  If they begin to lock, decrease pressure on the  brake pedal. As your vehicle decreases speed,  you can also shift into a lower gear. When sleet, freezing rain or snow begin to fall,  remember that bridges, ramps and overpasses will  freeze first. Also know that slippery spots may re- main after road workers have removed the snow.  Two-thirds of all deer-vehicle collisions occur  during the months of October, November and  December. This is also the time when deer breed  and when they travel the most. Daily deer activity  is highest at dawn and dusk, which often is the  highest time of travel for motor-vehicle com- muters. Deer travel in groups – if you see one,  expect more. Areas where there have been many  deer-vehicle collisions often are marked with  HOW TO AVOID COLLISIONS WITH DEER If your rear wheels start to skid: If your front wheels skid: • Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral  or push in the clutch, but do not try to immediately steer. • As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow  the vehicle and traction will return. As trac- tion returns, turn the wheel in the direction  you want to go. Then put the transmission in “drive” or release the clutch and accelerate carefully. • Turn the steering wheel in the direction the  vehicle is trying to go. If your rear wheels  slide left, steer left. If they slide right, steer right. • If your rear wheels start to slide in the other  direction as you recover, turn the steering  wheel toward that side. You might have to  turn the wheel left and right several times to  get your vehicle completely controlled. • If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS),  keep your foot with even pressure on the  brake pedal. If your vehicle does not have  ABS, pump the pedal carefully. Pump more 