HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-04-08, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN,THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2010.Wildlife collisions most frequent in late spring
From St. John's to Victoria,
Canada is certainly known for its
unique and picturesque landscapes.
We are one of a handful of coun-
tries where people and wild animals
live side by side, usually quite
peacefully. However, when those
people are behind the wheel of a car,
that relationship gets a bit trickier.
Wildlife collisions are a real
worry for Canadian drivers, particu-
larly between May and June, when
wildlife collisions are most fre-
quent. The most costly result of
these collisions is injury or even
death of both the wildlife and the
driver. They’re more common than
you’d think – a report from
Transport Canada found that
between four to eight large animal
vehicle collisions take place every
hour in Canada.
“Most people, especially those in
regions with a mix of urban and
rural areas, need to be more aware
of animal collisions,” says insurance
and claims expert Mauro Convertini
from Aviva Canada. “It’s important
that drivers know the risks and act
responsibly behind the wheel to try
to prevent these accidents.”
Convertini offers these tips to
reduce your chances of being
involved in a wildlife collision:
•Read the signs and watch the
road: Those yellow signs with the
prancing deer are erected to warn
drivers to slow down and be more
aware, especially at night.
•Stay in control: Never swerve
abruptly – hitting a tree or moving
into oncoming traffic can result in
significant more harm than hitting
the animal. Brake firmly if an ani-
mal is standing on, or crossing, the
road.
•React: If you can’t avoid striking
the large animal, be ready to duck
inside your car. Big animals – well
in access of 100 kilos can come
through your windshield and cause
severe injuries.
•Control your travel times: If you
can, avoid driving during twilight or
sunrise, when collisions are more
common.
Chamney
Auto Repair
Sales & Service
38897 Blyth Rd., R.R. #1, Auburn
519-526-7283 or 519-440-7800
Proprietor ~ Eldon Chamney
Spring thaws pose pothole problems
They seem to pop up by magic
almost overnight.
Spring temperatures warm the
cold pavement, melting and evapo-
rating any ice.
This creates air pockets that can
eventually cause the pavement to
break up. A winter of heavy snow or
rain and several freeze-thaw cycles
can mean a big pothole season
ahead.
Most drivers are familiar with the
unexpected jolt associated with run-
ning over a pothole. This can result
in some costly repairs including the
potential of damage to a vehicle’s
suspension components. As well,
hitting even one especially severe
pothole could alter the alignment of
a wheel and cause uneven tire wear.
Uneven tire wear means the tire will
need to be replaced sooner than nec-
essary. Car Care Canada offers these
tips to help protect vehicles against
a pothole encounter:
• Maintain full air pressure in all
tires to provide as much cushion as
possible between the pothole and
the rim of the tire.
• Watch for potholes by leaving
plenty of space between your vehi-
cle and the one in front of you.
Before swerving around a pothole,
be sure to check surrounding traffic.
• If you can’t avoid a pothole - at
least slow down! Hitting a pothole
at high speed increases the chance
of damage to tires, wheels, shocks,
struts or springs.
• When driving over a pothole-
filled road, hold the steering wheel
firmly to avoid losing control.
• Do not brake when directly over
a pothole. Applying the brakes caus-
es the car’s weight to shift to the
front of the wheel and can increase
damage from the impact.
• A broken shock or strut from a
pothole encounter could alter the
steering and handling of a vehicle
and create dangers when driving at
high speeds or in tight corners.
Broken suspension components
should be repaired immediately.
35587 Huron Road, RR #6, Goderich
519-524-2501 or 1-866-426-9502
We accept
• Free Estimates • Front Wheel Drives
• 4x4 Service • Domestic and Imports
• Clutch and Differential Repairs
• Specializing in Automatic and
Computer Controlled
Transmissions
• 1 Year Warranty on
rebuilt Transmissions
Huron Transmission
& Rust Proofing
We’ve all been overtaken by speed
demons trying to make it through the
next light without stopping. They
pick up the pace, put the pedal to the
metal and screech out in front hoping
to gain that minute or two advantage.
Sometimes, for all their speeding,
those same drivers arrive at the light
at the same time as we do. Have you
ever wondered how much fuel they
burn and how much time they really
save?
According to Natural Resources
Canada (NRCan), speeding and
aggressive driving burns excessive
fuel, wastes money and does not save
a significant amount of time.
If someone told you that you could
save two minutes of time by burning
up to 39 per cent more fuel would
you do it? Would it be worth it? With
gasoline prices skyrocketing in many
Canadian cities, and with growing
concerns for the environment, does it
really make sense to speed and drive
aggressively?
Save yourself some money and
slow down. You can find more
money-saving driving tips at
www.vehicles.nrcan.gc.ca.
Heavy pedal-foot leads to
high prices at the pumps