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The snowfall Friday surprised a lot of Ketchikan residents who weren't quite ready to accept the onset of winter weather. It was a good reminder to those of us who have been putting off our annual switch to snow tires, and a great reason for all drivers to re-examine our driving habits.

Winter driving is a whole other skill set, and adjustments are necessary to make daily commutes safe, whether our destinations are 30 minutes or five minutes away.

The first adjustment is time. In colder weather, we have to give ourselves an extra few minutes before leaving to make sure the vehicle is ready for the road. That means removing snow and ice, and defogging windows so we can see clearly.

When removing snow and ice from our cars, we need to make sure the headlights and taillights also are clear, and, because it's darker during winter, it's a good idea to turn on the headlights even during the day.

Patience is a virtue in general, but especially when we're on the road. It takes even longer than usual to stop on snow or ice than on dry - or even Ketchikan's typically wet - pavement. Tailgating a car we think is moving too slow could cause an otherwise avoidable accident, so let's all just take a deep breath and remember we live on an island with one main road; there's really no place to go that's so important it can't wait a minute or two longer. It's not worth making a "slow" driver nervous, which can lead to an accident, or potentially rear-ending another car if it suddenly brakes.

Even the best drivers can get stuck in the snow, but a little preparation can mean a short, inexpensive ordeal versus a pricey tow after a long, cold wait. Some supplies to keep handy in the trunk or storage area include a small bag of ice melt and/or kitty litter to help give tires traction, a small snow shovel, work gloves and booster cables. A cell phone also could be handy if we end up needing help.

Driving in the winter doesn't have to be scary or dangerous, as long as we all take care. Slow down, pay attention and remain considerate of other drivers, and we'll have a better-than-average chance of getting through the winter without major mishaps.