HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-10-27, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011. PAGE 17.
NC –Follow these fuel-efficient
driving tips from Natural Resources
Canada (NRCan) and make fewer
trips to the gas station this winter:
• Avoid aggressive driving
behaviour, such as quick starts and
hard stops – that can increase your
fuel consumption by up to 25 per
cent.
• Drive at the posted speed limit –
decreasing your cruising speed from
120 kilometres per hour to 100
kilometres per hour will decrease
fuel consumption by approximately
20 per cent.
• Don’t idle – idling for more than
60 seconds uses more fuel and
produces more CO2 compared to
restarting your engine.
• Use cruise control – on dry, flat,
wide-open highways, use cruise
control to help improve fuel
efficiency by maintaining an even
and steady speed.
• Take the most fuel-efficient
route – routes with fewer stop lights
and less traffic may use less fuel
than shorter routes with more stop
lights and heavy traffic.
• Measure your tire pressure once
a month – under-inflated tires by 56
kilopascals can increase your
vehicle’s fuel consumption by up to
four per cent.
• Calculate your mileage – set
your trip odometer every time you
fill up and challenge yourself to go
farther and farther on each tank of
fuel. NRCan has a handy online fuel
calculator on their website at
www.vehicles.nrcan.gc.ca
Winter driving tips to keep you on the road
Get better mileage this winter
Continued from page 16
and subsequently the front wheels in
the same direction of the skid. If the
front wheels skid, take your foot off
the gas and shift to neutral. Don’t try
to steer immediately; the skid may
slow and traction could return. Then
you can steer in the direction you
want to go and put the car back into
drive.
Keep in mind that even with expert
manoeuvering it can be tricky to
recover from a skid on ice. Snow
tires are not infallible and may be
ineffective on icy roadways.
Leaving Space
One of the best things a person can
do when driving in winter weather is
to slow down and add much more
room for reacting to roadway
conditions. Driving slowly and
braking slowly may help to prevent
skids. Also, should a skid occur,
having more room between you and
another vehicle helps you to
manoeuver elsewhere or come to a
stop without causing an accident.
When visibility is poor, leaving
extra room means you can react if
something suddenly veers into the
path of the car or you missed seeing
it through the snow and sleet.
Stranded or Stuck
Should the car break down or it
becomes stuck in the snow, there are
some things you can do. Be sure to
steer or push the car to a safe
location, if possible. Put up warning
flares or triangles so that you are
visible and leave the four-way
flashers on if the battery is
operable.
You can try “rocking” the car, by
putting it in drive and hitting the gas,
then in reverse and pressing on the
accelerator to create a valley in the
snow that might free the car. Use
your abrasive material to provide
traction. You can also attempt to
shovel out the tires.
If the car is inoperable, stay in the
vehicle out of harm’s way and call
for help on a mobile phone. Leave a
window cracked open if you will be
running the engine for periodic heat.
You should be able to run the engine
for heat about once every hour or
every half hour in severe cold.
Be sure to clean snow from around
the end of the tail pipe to prevent
carbon monoxide buildup. For extra
heat, don blankets or a sleeping bag
to prevent hypothermia.
Driving in winter conditions can
be exhausting and hazardous. Being
prepared for common scenarios
decreases risk of accidents.
PARTS FOR ALL
MAKES & MODELS
HOURS:
MON. - FRI. 8 A.M. - 5:30 P.M.
SAT. 8 A.M. - 12 NOON
564 Campbell St.,
LUCKNOW
519-528-2220
1-877-528-2220
After Hours:
519-528-3876
FAX 519-528-2226
BRYAN MARRIAGE
www.huronfuelinjection.com
“Qualified
Care
For Your
Complex Fuel
Systems”
1-800-320-0666 77242 London Rd.. (Hwy #4 S.), Clinton, ON 519-482-7971
Service & Sales Of
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...on the Road