We don't have to deal with the road surface hazards faced every day by folks driving between the Valley and Anchorage. But we have to drive weekly to Wasilla and less frequently Anchorage. The stud-less tires on our Toyota serve us very well. I'll leave it to others to debate studs versus no studs. Whatever tires one has, prudent defensive driving under given road conditions (lower speed, greater spacing between vehicles etc.) is the single most important safety tool in preventing accidents.

I wonder if the uninterrupted parallel pavement grooves in the driving surface represent the greatest threat to the driving public, such hydroplaning in the summer. Last week driving home from Anchorage, we encountered some snow and ice on the highway. The conditions were easily dealt with by slowing to 50 or 55 mph. But the car was regularly tossed around by grooves in the pavement; very disconcerting. Perhaps we should focus on the assertion by some that DOT allows the use of inferior asphalt?