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Show Comment Requested Two such traction aids currently being sold in Utah include 'cable chains" and "snow treads.' The "cable chains" consist of steel cables laced together and fastened to the tire in somewhat some-what the same manner as steel linked chains. The "snow treads" consist of plastic traction wedges strapped to the tread of the tire with a network of nylon belts. The manufacturers of both types claim they offer the flexibility that radial tires require, and are effective in deep snow. Utahns will have until December Dec-ember 23 to submit written comments or requests for a hearing concerning the proposed pro-posed rule change before it comes up for final consideration consid-eration by the Commission. Statements may be addressed add-ressed to the Utah State Road Commission, Room 612 D, State Office Building, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114. The Commission will hold an oral hearing on the change, if requested by 25 or more people, by a governmental a-gency, a-gency, or by an association having not less than 25 members. The Utah State Road Commission Com-mission is inviting public comment on a proposed rule change that will significantly significant-ly broaden the special traction trac-tion requirements for the vehicles ve-hicles allowed to use certain cer-tain snow-restricted canyon roads when they have been closed to vehicles with conventional con-ventional tires. Since 1968, Highway Department De-partment regulations have allowed the State Highway Director to designate certain canyon highways to be restricted re-stricted during the winter to use only by vehicles equipped equipp-ed with snow tires or chains. The 'snow tires or chain" restrictions have largely been applied to ski resort canyons, such as Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons, Logan Canyon, and Parowan Canyon. The restriction periods were relatively short, lasting last-ing only until highway maintenance main-tenance crews cleared the snow from the roads. Signs are posted notifying notify-ing motorists when the restrictions re-strictions are in effect, and motorists who violate them are given citations by the "Utah Highway Patrol, pun-ishable pun-ishable by fines rangingfrom $5.00 to $299. The proposed amendment to the regulations would expand ex-pand the list of vehicles allowed to use snow restricted re-stricted highways to include not only vehicles equipped with snow tires or chains, 'put a'lso "four-wheel drive vehicles, and vehicles equipped equip-ped with traction aids. Since the adoption of the 'snow tires or chains" winter win-ter travel restrictions on canyon roads, radial tires have gained popularity to -the point where they are now offered as standard equipment equip-ment on many new cars. However, radial tires offer a problem to their owners. Conventional steel-link chains cannot be used with them because they damage the tire sidewalls. New traction attachments have been developed to replace re-place the conventional chains. |