"It's Snow Joke (Icy what you did there)"

The Commons' puns are kind of entertaining, but these winter snow storms are no joke. Because of the recent weather events that have been going on lately, I think I would like to take some time to offer advice on how to handle the snow and ice on the roads. Trust me! I was born and raised in Michigan, the inclement weather here is usually nothing compared to what's going on back there.

Since a lot of us are commuters and drive to UMBC daily, an ice scraper is something you want to have at this time in the season. You want to clear off all the snow that's on the windshield of your car, so it doesn't fall off and cause hazards to other drivers out on the road. Make sure that your car has enough anti-freeze before going out, and upon refilling don't use water (you should never use water), it'll freeze, expand and cause lots of damage to your car.

When navigating the road,  take it a bit slower than normal; Snow tends to cause a bit more traffic than usual, so leave earlier than usual. Even though it may look like the roads are completely cleared off, black ice is still a factor and can cause a major hazard if you get caught in it, especially on back roads. 

Other than that, aside from staying warm and bundled up with the appropriate clothes, driving and handling the snowy conditions are almost like driving in the rain or fog. It's one of those seasonal hazards that we all have to face and knowing how to drive in these conditions is really half the battle. Believe me, I feel bad for the people in the south, they got snowed-in and they have no idea how to handle the snow. Be careful out there and stay warm my friends.

- Christian