If you're dreaming of a white Christmas, instead of visions of sugar plums dancing in your head conjure up an image of scraping all the snow and ice off your vehicle before taking it to the streets.

That is the forceful and useful tip offered by DMV Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb, the Governor's Safety Commission Representative, in a recent press release.

Many folks do scrape their entire vehicle. Most of us do it once in a while but mostly concentrate on the windows, especially the front windshield and rear window, and maybe take a swipe or two at the snow on the hood and a bit off the roof.

Others, however, take a more Alfred Hitchcockian approach and rather horrifyingly-for us-don't look out the rear window at all because they leave it completely blocked with snow.

That's totally for the birds and will send your vehicle north by northwest, as if you had vertigo behind the wheel.

Commissioner Holcomb is correct, of course. Lazily leaving 10-inch thick slabs of snow on the roof of your vehicle so your 60 miles-an-hour speed can blow it off in mid-route is dangerous. We've all seen huge glaciers of packed, icy snow suddenly lift off the roof of the vehicle in front of us and pray that we don't slam into it, windshield high, at 60 miles an hour.

“Snow falling onto the roadway from a vehicle while it is moving is a safety hazard to the driver,” Commissioner Holcomb notes, “and other motorists on the road.”

There are even drivers who scrape a small circle of snow off the front windshield, about the size of their head, just enough to peep through, and take off down the road. A game of Russian roulette on wheels, seemingly.

The only person who doesn't need to scrape his vehicle clean is Santa, but he drives a centuries-old sled. There is no windshield, hood or roof to clean.

And, besides, Santa Claus has got Rudolph to guide him-with a red nose that also alerts nearby pilots-if there is heavy weather.

The rest of us need to make sure we have enough scrapers to get us through the winter, and a broom handy to reach all the way across the roof of our vehicles.

Have all the Christmas dreams you want.

Just don't be someone else's nightmare.

And that particularly includes no drinking and driving.

Even in the most snow-free vehicle on the highway.

Last year, snow or sleet was a contributing factor, the state reports, in 3,414 traffic accidents and 11 fatalities in the Commonwealth.

As Commissioner Holcomb noted, drivers need to slow down when winter weather hits.

Critically, don't go out and drive at all unless it is absolutely imperative.

(Do not drink and drive).

Decrease speed and increase your following distance behind the vehicle in front of you from three seconds, law enforcement officers and safety experts recommend, to six seconds. The breaking distance on road surfaces with either rain, snow or ice can be from three to nine times greater than on dry roads, they note.

(Do not drink and drive).

Nor should anyone think that front-wheel or four-wheel drive makes them invulnerable to highway dangers.

“No matter what you are driving, you need to change your driving behavior in bad weather,” Commissioner Holcomb said. “No one is immune to the hazards of winter driving.”

Should you encounter a slippery surface, he urges, do not react suddenly or over-correct. No slamming of the brakes or sudden turns of the steering wheel. Doing that will send you into a tree or across the lane into oncoming traffic.

(Do not drink and drive).

Give yourself time and space.

(Do not drink and drive).

Time and space.

Or you may have no more of either left to you.

A few other simple safety tips from the state include turning on your lights and making certain that they, too, are completely free of snow and ice so that they work as they should to guide your way.

(Do not drink and drive).

Do not use cruise control and do not employ overdrive.

(Do not drink and drive).

Don't pass snow plows or VDOT sanding trucks.

(Do not drink and drive).

Remain in the right lane unless passing.

(Do not drink and drive).

Steer with smooth and precise movements to prevent skidding.

(Do not drink and drive).

Yield right-of-way or reduce speed when approaching stationary emergency vehicles on roadways.

And here's a thought, too-do not drive in such conditions while talking on the cell phone.

Keep two relaxed hands on the steering wheel and full concentration on the road ahead, which comes suddenly enough beneath you.

And here's something else to be absolutely certain of-do not drink and drive.

-JKW-