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Show MM Fop HMop iitis? The Utah Department of Transportation is urging motorists mo-torists to prepare for the upcoming up-coming winter season. Winterizing your car now will give you a headstart on winter driving. MAKE SURE your battery is competely tested and ready to go. Keep the battery, brake and clutch fluid, windshield cleaning fluid, and radiator filled, and have your antifreeze an-tifreeze tested. Make sure your windshield wipers and defroster are working. For easier starts, change to a lighter, winter-weight oil, unless you use a multi-viscosity type. Have the entire exhaust system checked for leaks carbon monoxide from a faulty exhaust can be fatal. Now is the time to have snow tires put on. Radial tires do not eliminate the need for snow tires. But, remember it's unsafe to mix regular snow tires with radials. The driving characteristics of radial tires are different from those of bias-ply or bias-belted tires, and mixing types increases the risk of slipping and skidding. Be sure to keep tire pressure at recommended recommend-ed levels under-inflating increases wear, not traction. TO "WINTERIZE" the driver, winter driving techniques tech-niques should be reviewed. Slow down when driving in bad weather, and increase following distance it takes three to nine times as far to stop on snow and ice as on dry pavement. Go easy on the gas pedal when driving on slick roads quick acceleration may cause the wheels to spin. 'When using the brakes, pump them, don't jam them on. -abrupt braking can cause skidding. An intermittent pumping action keeps the wheels rolling and helps maintain steering control. Don't brake in the middle of. a curve; brake only when traveling in a straight line. If . you are in a skid take your foot off the gas - let the engine en-gine slow you down never jam on your brakes, and turn the steering wheel in the direction you are skidding. Also, remember that shifting to lower gear, especially going go-ing downhill, will slow the car and reduce the need to apply the brakes. MOTORISTS should also know that filling your trunk: with sandbags is not a good way to increase traction. A small amount of extra traction trac-tion can be gained by putting extra weight over the rear axle, but most car trunks are well behind the rear axle, and adding extra weight behind-the behind-the axle can reduce overall control by lessening the load on the front wheels. This cuts steering control substantially, and increases the risk of a spin-out. It cuts your gas mileage too! For information any time on current road conditions: throughout the state, mo-;, torists can call 532-6000. The"7 Utah Departments of Trans- ' portation and Public Safety" update the recorded message as conditions change on Utah's major highways. |