We hope this winter is the season that we look back upon, thankful there were no fatal crashes.

The weather is changing. The roads are slicker. It’s darker earlier.

Be safe on the roads.

Many North Kitsap families grieved in 2012 and 2011. We know that 2013 can be different.

Drive the speed limit. Drive for the conditions. Give yourself plenty of distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Give yourself enough time to get where you’re going so you don’t feel tempted to step on the gas.

If road conditions are poor — ice and snow, for example — carpool with someone who has a vehicle built for the conditions, or stay home. If you must go out, wait until snow plows and sanding trucks have done their work.

Be prepared, be patient, be safe. You’re important and we want you to get home safely — and live to celebrate with us an incident-free season on North Kitsap’s roads.