Prime Choice offers a blizzard of savings on everything for ultimate winter driving Nov. 16-18 at 201 Iber Rd. in Stittsville

When it comes to winter driving, concern for family members comes along with the bad weather.

Doug Hatoum, the store manager of Prime Choice, experienced that first-hand when his daughter Sarah, an ambitious young college student, first drove to Algonquin in the snow.

“As a young driver, she was very timid to drive,” he said. “I remember the first snowfall last winter, she took her car and parked it. She got friends to drive her or she took the bus. She said to me, ‘Dad, I don’t want to drive the car, it slides.’ ” That was last year.

Doug took her to put snow tires on her car, and then to a shopping centre parking lot to practice spins and turns.

Sarah felt much more confident heading out to school. “Last year after practicing winter driving with her snow tires, she picked up her friends and took them to school.

“This year she’s more ready for winter,” he said, “and she’s the one reminding me to put on snow tires.”

In preparing for winter, driving guides suggest you have a snow brush, an extra blanket, a full jug of windshield antifreeze, booster cables, a cellphone charger that doesn’t need to plug in, and some salt/sand mixture for traction in your vehicle trunk.

For winter safety driving tips, visit the website for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation at ontario.ca.

Locally owned and operated, Prime Choice is the auto parts store for everyone. The warm, welcoming store attracts a healthy mix of do-it-yourselfers, backyard mechanics and the everyday consumer looking for windshield wiper blades and a battery.

Gazing around at his counter on a rainy afternoon, Doug spotted a variety of people, which included a mechanic, a mom with two kids, a gentleman in a dress shirt, and a student.

“People shouldn’t be intimidated, they should pop by,” he said. “Nobody plans for a breakdown. We understand that and want to make this as easy as possible. Having the part is one thing, but getting people the right part and the proper help is the biggest part of the transaction. Our job for any motorist out there with a need is to get them back on the road as quickly and effectively as possible.”

All auto products are available at the three Prime Choice locations. “It’s a three-day winter blitz — a blizzard of savings.”

Visit Prime Choice during their Nov. 16-18 parking lot sale event to learn more about winter tires, see their selection of winter rims, and to talk to professionals about what’s right for your vehicle. If you’re unable to attend this event, you’re invited to visit prime choice winter tire sale. mylp.co for a quote on tires and information on the event. The experts at Prime Choice will be happy to get in touch and help you make an informed decision on your winter driving needs.

For more information and to find everything needed for winter driving safety, visit

www.primechoice.ca or call 613-236-2332.