Very soon, drivers in upstate New York will once again be traveling through tricky winter conditions. Slippery roads and low visibility are common in this region.

It can be scary, but you can be prepared, even if you end up stuck.

One of the most important things to remember is to keep plenty of fuel in your tank. If you do get stranded, you never know how long you could be waiting for help in the cold.

"Gas is a limited resource in your vehicle too, so a lot of people we see don't keep enough fuel in their vehicle for their trip," said Dan Fisher, ERS dispatch manager for AAA. "You never think anything's going to go wrong, but you do have to be prepared when it does."

Another important thing to keep in mind is something that could save your life when you're stuck. If it's safe to do so, always make sure the exhaust of your vehicle is not blocked by snow. If the exhaust is blocked while the vehicle is running, it could allow carbon monoxide to leak back into the cabin of your car.

It's important to remember that poor weather conditions can slow down emergency response vehicles considerably. That means having an emergency kit in your car can also be a lifesaver. The following items are ones you should include in your kit:

• Jumper cables/portable jump starter
• Power bank phone charger
• Water
• Flashlight
• Blanket/space blanket
• Snacks

The tires on your vehicle also need special attention before the weather deteriorates. AAA says you should make sure your tires are properly inflated and have enough tread. If you've been putting off getting new tires, it's a good idea to address that before the flakes fly. It can be the difference between staying on the road or ending up in a ditch.

AAA also has the following recommendations when it comes to driving in snow:

• Stay home. Only go out if necessary. Even if you can drive well in bad weather, it’s better to avoid taking unnecessary risks by venturing out
• Drive slowly. Always adjust your speed down to account for lower traction when driving on snow or ice
• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry and take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads
• Increase your following distance to five to six seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop
• Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal
• Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it
• Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads will just make your wheels spin. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill slowly
• Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before