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Show CAR OWNERS URGED ' TO GET READY FOR WINTER 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 tip-top shape," C. T. Eailey, 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 failures at any time, but it's doubly disheartening to run into trouble in bad weather." Items requiring pre - winter checkup were listed as follows: BRAKES Ee sure they are kept equalized. WINDSHIELD WIPERS Will they work effectively under added loads of snow ? EXHAUST SYSTEM Check for possible defects; be sure tail pipe extends to extreme rear of vehicle. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Inspect In-spect for proper insulation of wires and connections, to prevent moisture mois-ture causing short circuits. HEADLIGHTS Check for proper focus and aim, on bright and dim beams. TIRES Good treads are highly desirable, and proper air pres-; sures should be maintained. In addition to putting this standard equipment in condition for winter, the Safety Council urged use of special equipment, particularly chains. Under severe snow and ice conditions, tire chains reduce passenger car braking distances dis-tances up to 40, even 50 per cent. On heavier vehicles chains are still more essential, since they provide added traction for getting under-way or climbing a grade. Other special equipment for winter win-ter includes defrosters, heaters, warning flares and fusees to provide pro-vide protection in case of breakdown. break-down. Citing research by the National Safety Council, it was 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 rates are inadequate inade-quate traction and poor visibility," Bailey declared. "Accordingly, drivers must adjust speeds to conditions, con-ditions, use anti-skid chains when severe snow and ice conditions prevail, slow down well in advance of intersections and curves, maintain main-tain safe distance between vehicles, ve-hicles, signal intentions of turning or stopping, and be sure of ability to stop within the distance visible ahead." Traffic fatality rates jump from 24 to 53 per cent in snow belt states during months of ice and ; snow, Mr. Bailey pointed out. "We need everyone's cooperation to get . through the winter season in Utah j with a minimum of trouble in traf-1 fic," he said. - j |