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Show Safety Council Warns Motorists Of Winter Driving Hazards Don't let Old Man Winter catch you by surprise, car owners and truck fleet operators were warned today by the Utah Safety Council. "Face the threats of wintry months ahead in confidence that your vehicles are In Up-top shape," C. T. Bailey, executive director of the Utah Safety Council advised. "Preparing an adequate defense will help prevent accidents and traffic tie-ups. It's no fun to have mechanical mechan-ical failures at any time, but it's doubly disheartening to run into trouble in bad weather." Items requiring pre-wlnter checkup check-up were listed as follows: BRAKES: Be sure they are kept equalized. WINDSHIELD WIPEHS: Will they work effectively under added add-ed loads of tuuiw? EXHAUST SYSTEM: Check for possible defects, be sure tall pipe extends to extreme rear of vehicle.. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Inspect for proper Insulation of wires and connections, to prevent moisture causing short circuits. HEADLIGHTS: Check for proper focus and aim, on bright and dim beams. TIRES: Good treads are highly desirable, and proper air pressures should be maintained. In addition to putting this stand' ard equipment In condition for winter, win-ter, the Safety Council urged use of special equipment, particularly chains. Under severe snow and Ice conditions, tire chains reduce passenger pas-senger car braking distances up to 40 or ven 50 per cent. On heavier vehicles chains are still more essential, essen-tial, since they provide added traction trac-tion for getting under-way or climbing climb-ing a grade. Other special equipment for winter win-ter Includes defrosters, heaters, and warning flares and fuses to provide protection In case of breakdown. Citing research by the National Safety Council, it waa emphasized that In many snow belt states last winter, nearly 65 per cent of all traffic mishaps occurred on snowy, or Icy surfaces. "Foremost factors In the high winter accident rate are Inadequate traction and poor vlsabllity," Bailey Bail-ey declared. "Accordingly, drivers must adjust speed to conditions, use antl-skld chains when severe snow and Ice conditions prevail, slow down well In advance of Intersections Intersec-tions and curves, maintain safe distance dis-tance between vehicles, signal intentions in-tentions of turning or stopping, and be sure of ability to stop within the distance vlsable ahead." Traffic fatality rates Jump from 24 to 53 per cent In snow belt states during months of Ice and anow, Mr. Bailey pointed out. "We need everyone's every-one's cooperation to get through the winter season In Utah with a minimum min-imum of trouble in traffic," he said. |