‘Tis the season in many parts of the country for snow, sleet, wind, hail and ice. Which all add up to plenty of hazardous driving conditions over the next several months.

Here are a few tips to help you get safely through another winter driving season.

Do:

• Tell someone where you’re going and what time you should be there
• Check your wiper blades, fluids, tires and lights
• Make sure all your windows, headlights and taillights are cleared of snow
• Give yourself extra room to stop — allow at least three times more space between you and the vehicle in front of you than you normally would
• Drive with extra care on bridges and overpasses, which may be icy in cold weather
• Watch for black ice on shady sections of the road, especially in the early morning or evening

Don’t:

• Let your fuel tank get low
• Use cruise control on icy roads
• Hit the brakes if you start to slide on ice; instead take your foot off the accelerator and gently steer into the direction of the skid
• Get overconfident if you drive a four-wheel-drive truck or SUV. Four-wheel-drive won’t make a bit of difference on ice

Emergency supplies for your vehicle:

• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Blankets and an extra coat, gloves, hat, pants, socks, boots
• Bottled water and nonperishable food (hard candy, energy bars, etc.)
• Flares
• Shovel
• Sand, salt, kitty litter or traction mats
• Empty can, matches, candles
• Jumper cables
• Paper towels
• First-aid kit

If you get stuck in a storm:

• Don’t panic
• Stay with your vehicle
• Push your OnStar button and tell the Advisor your situation
• Run the engine for a few minutes periodically to keep warm while you are waiting for help to arrive, but make sure the tailpipe is clear of snow first and crack the window open slightly in case of any carbon monoxide fumes

For more winter driving advice, visit:

Driving in Snow and Ice
Winter Driving Tips
10 Tips for Winter Driving
Safety Tips: Winter Driving
Are You Ready for Winter Driving?

If you were stranded in your vehicle during a storm, what’s the No. 1 thing you’d want to have with you? Tell us in the comments below.

More and more stores are opening at midnight this year for Black Friday, the day-after-Thanksgiving shopping frenzy that’s not for the faint of heart. If you’re determined to battle the crowds for bargains, you’ll need every weapon in your shopping arsenal. That’s where OnStar can help. Why not harness the power at your fingertips to help you get through the day — or the night?

• Use Hands-Free Calling minutes or your Bluetooth-compatible phone⁽¹⁾ to keep in touch with family members and friends while you’re shopping or to make plans to meet for a coffee break or at a specific store for some power shopping.

• Use your OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation to get you everywhere you want to go, all day long, effortlessly. Or plan your route ahead of time with OnStar eNav. Just route your destinations online at MapQuest.com or Google Maps and send it to your vehicle’s Turn-by-Turn Navigation system, where they will be waiting for you when you want them.

• If you accidentally lock your keys in the car along with all the gifts you just purchased, don’t panic. Call OnStar — 1.888.466.7827 (1.888.4.ONSTAR) — and an Advisor can quickly unlock your door remotely.⁽²⁾ Or if you have OnStar FMV, just call OnStar and an Advisor will arrange for a locksmith to come and unlock your vehicle.

• If you can’t find your car in the mall parking lot, call OnStar —1.888.466.7827 (1.888.4.ONSTAR) — from your cell phone and ask the Advisor to activate the Remote Horn and Lights for you.

• If you are in need of gas and don’t know the area, just push the blue OnStar button and ask the Advisor to find the closest gas station for you so you can get back to your shopping.

• If you find you have a flat tire, push the OnStar button and ask for Roadside Assistance.

Plus, here are some tips and suggestions from OnStar to help make the most of your Black Friday shopping day:

• Rest while you can. Take a nap before you head out, whether it’s just after midnight, just before dawn or during daylight hours.

• Dress for success: Wear comfortable shoes and layer lightweight clothing — like fleece — that will help keep you warm outside but not make you sweat inside, preferably with zippered pockets for credit cards and cash.

• Do your homework ahead of time. Check ads, Internet specials and product reviews, and compare prices.

• Make a list. Know whom you’re shopping for and how much you can spend — and stick to the list and your budget.

• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water.

• Bring snacks. It will save you time in the food court lines and help keep your energy level up.

And, if you don’t find what you’re looking for on Black Friday, don’t panic. After all, the holiday shopping season has just begun!

What time do you hit the stores on Black Friday and how do you prepare? Or do you avoid the crowds and craziness? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Visit onstar.com for coverage map, details and system limitations. Services vary by model and conditions.
1 For vehicles equipped with Bluetooth.
2 For vehicles capable of Remote Door Unlock.

My daughter and I live in Canada, so to have the car trouble on a Saturday evening far from home where we don’t know the countryside and have no family or friends was pretty upsetting.

I was absolutely thrilled with the service and support I received. The Advisor was considerate, helpful and patient. In fact, I can’t say enough good things about the Advisor and the service we received.

The Advisor checked to see that we were safely off the road and then put us through to Roadside Assistance, who arranged a tow truck for us.

When she realized we didn’t know the area at all, the Advisor checked the prices at a few hotels near the dealership where we were going to be towed. When the tow truck arrived, the driver took the car to the nearest dealership and then he took us to the hotel.

Without the Advisor and OnStar, we would not have known what to do or where to go. The problem was fixed as soon as the dealership opened on Monday and we were safely on our way home again by 11 a.m.

— Sharon Thurston, OnStar subscriber

Have your own OnStar experience to share? Submit your story here.

They hit the OnStar blue button for help — it was the first time they had ever needed it — and spoke with an OnStar Advisor. OnStar quickly sent Roadside Assistance⁽¹⁾ to where the two couples were stranded, thanks to the built-in GPS feature.

“My parents were back on the road, safe and sound, within the hour,” says Matthew, who lives in Bethesda, Md. “The service really delivered peace of mind to them and to me.” Matthew says his parents drive a lot and he’s glad to know OnStar is there for them. “You don’t want any family member alone on the road, facing a difficult problem, especially at night,” he adds.

But the service from OnStar didn’t end when the tire was changed and the couples were on their way once again. Shortly after his parents reached their home, “they got a call from the OnStar Advisor, asking if they had made it home OK,” says Matthew. “I’m a bit of a cynic. I often hear OnStar radio ads with stories that sound too good to be true. But my parents are a real-world example, showing that OnStar delivers as promised. They have incredible focus on the customer.”

The calming presence of having a live Advisor for his parents to talk with in a stressful situation was especially reassuring to them, Matthew says, adding that their Advisor stayed on the line with them until help arrived.

Matthew says he was truly impressed by the personal attention his parents received during and after their time of need and how easy the service was to use. He was also relieved that his parents didn’t need to rely on a cell phone for help, since getting clear cell service is not always possible in every area.

Sometimes the best way to appreciate OnStar’s great customer service is to see it in action. Win and Lenore Gerson received the OnStar Directions and Connections service for six months when they purchased their new car and their experience has sold them on the service, says their son. “Not only did you make a customer for life, but knowing my mother, she has told every retiree in Palm Beach about her story!”

Have your own OnStar experience to share? Submit your story here.

1 Roadside service provided by Cross Country.