Show Two Winter Most ost drivers recognize the two big ups hang-ups of winter winter winter win win- traction traction traction trac trac- ter inadequate driving tion and reduced ability to see but many drivers neglect to compensate for them THIS TIllS observation was made this week by Leo H. H Barlow Utah Safety Councils Council's vice president for Traffic To survive on winter roadways roadways roadways road road- ways drivers must learn to live with these twin bad bad- weather driving beasts or get racked up in a crash SKIDDING and see accidents are killers that our officers have to clean up after many times every fall falland falland falland and winter he said The state safety authority asked drivers to review with him some of the bad weather er roadway hazards and techniques techniques techniques tech tech- for handling them developed over the years by bythe bythe bythe the National Safety Councils Council's Committee on Winter Driving Hazards WET PAVEMENT Accidents climb when it rains If rain is heavy your car may start hydroplaning Tires ride on a sheet of water off the pavement pavement pavement pave pave- ment and steering control is lost before you realize it WATER SKIING is fun but not on a freeway with several tons of Detroit iron for skis During and after a heavy rain reduce speed check steering and allow more space for stopping SNOW AND ICE At only 20 miles an hour you can use up to 10 car lengths in getting stopped on ice compared compared compared com com- pared with about one car length on dry crY pavement Every driver should learn the technique of pumping brakes to slow or stop IF YOU are trying to stop on ice or packed hard-packed snow 17 resist the impulse to jam on your your brakes A locked wheel skid can be fatal Instead jab your brakes on to five and off three quickly times a second This pumping pumping pumping pump pump- ing action lets wheels roll intermittently helping to retain retain retain re re- tain steering control 10 EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT- Regardless of pf the types of tires you use you cant can't stop on an icy dime but good treads do help T Tests show that snow tires lures improve traction considerably on loosely packed snow though they arent aren't of any help when it comes to stopping on glare ice STUDDED tires on the theother theother theother other hand provide appreciably appreciably appreciably ably more traction on ice For severe snow and ana ice conditions conditions conditions con con- however reinforced tire chains provide the ultimate ultimate ultimate ulti ulti- mate in stopping and pulling ability Always carry them in inthe inthe inthe the trunk along with a shovel sand rock salt or a piece of carpeting booster cables a tow chain or strap and emergency lighting equipment SKIDDING Wet ice is especially treacherous At 30 degrees near thawing it is twice as slippery as at zero M Make ke turns gently and cautiously Watch for icy patches at bridges and ov ov- ov over passes Dont Don't brake when you hit an icy spot Hold the wheel steady and roll through IF YOU do go into a skid ease up on the gas gas' and steer in the direction the rear end endis endis endis is skidding Never hit the brakes when a skid starts When you feel yourself coming out of the skid straighten your wheels VISION This is the second Bad Weather Beast Longer hours of darkness along with rain sleet snow and road muck all add to driving haz haz- ards Snow ice and road slush j haz-j must be cleared off windshields windshields windshields wind wind- shields and windows as well as the headlights I and tail tail taillights lights BE SURE your defroster works efficiently If your windshield wipers streak re replace replace re-I re re- re place the blades with live new rubber Windshield washers wash wash- ers should have adequate antifreeze antifreeze antifreeze anti anti- freeze solution solution- to prevent freezing |