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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-01-12, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12,1994. Safety, top priority of winter road maintenance By Larry Till Ontario's winter road mainte­ nance program is like a finely- tuned car. There are literally hundreds of different componenets, each one operating independently but committed to making the whole thing work. Some factors can be more or less anticipated, such as traffic volume and seasonal snow fall. And some can't including the biggest variable of all - the weather. And then there's the great imponderable - the human factor. Winter driving Where caution meets sense Here are some tips for safe winter driving from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. The ministry operates local road information services throughout the province. Call your local office for details or the MTO INFO line in Toronto at (416) 235-4686. Out of town residents can call toll-free 1- 800-268-2376. DRIVER’S CHECKLIST DO have enough warm clothing - - including coat, gloves, boots and hat. You never know then you'll need them. DO make sure your car is in good working order before winter hits — and especially before setting out on a long winter drive. Get a thorough tune-up and check your car's anti-freeze, battery, brakes, tires, windshield and muffler. DO keep enough windshield washer anti-freeze on hand. DO watch for slippery sections that often form with drifting snow and create dangerous winter­ driving conditions. Also pay special attention to bridges and overpasses — which tend to freeze up earlier than other surfaces - and for ramps that might be icy or snow-covered. DO carry a winter survival kit. The kit--which can be stowed under the driver's seat for easy access—should contain: • a small, lightweight shovel (it might be just the thing to get you on your way when stuck in the snow); • matches or a lighter and candles for warmth ( a single candle can add 4.5 C, or 10 F, of warmth to the inside of your car); Return change notice by May 1 Continued from page 11 indicate their choice on the Change Notice and return it to the Commission by May 1. Each farmer who was insured in 1993 will receive 1994 enrolment information with detailed instructions in the mail in early March. Producers may contact the Crop Insurance Commission at (416) 326-3276 for more informa­ tion. McKillop passes bylaw Continued from page 12 may be permitted on a more fre­ quent and extensive basis. A voucher in the amount of $23,132.07 was approved for pay­ ment. A bylaw passed authorizing the borrowing of $600,000. Every year, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation has to make decisions about winter main­ tenance. Everything, from how much salt co use to how many seasonal workers to hire, is based on an ever-changing mix of experience, knowledge, and good old-fashioned gut instinct. How and when a road is plowed, salted and sanded is determined for the most part by its location and the number of vehicles using it. The guidelines for provincial highways call for snow removal "as soon as reasonably possible." • a tin cup or can to melt snow for drinking water; • non-perishable, high-energy food such as chocolate or peanuts; • plastic garbage bags to be used as insulation against the wind in case you have to get out of the car; • blanket or sleeping bag; • smaller items, including an ice scraper, snow brush, flashlight, flares, tow chain, jumper cables, and a container of sand, salt or kitty litter for traction; • an emergency supply of prescription drugs, if necessary. Also useful are basic tools such as screwdrivers and pliers, a tire gauge, car jack, tire wrench and spare tires and fuses. • DO remember to buy — and use — anti-freeze for your car locks and gas tank. • DO keep your gas tank more than half full. It will prevent moisture from freezing in the gas lines and give your rear-wheel car a little more traction when stuck. • DO leave one window open just a crack when driving. This will improve circulation, reduce condensation and fogging inside windows, and prevent carbon­ monoxide poisoning. But don't open the rear window on a station wagon or mini-van. It allows exhaust fumes inside. • DO take some time to learn proper winter driving skills. Some private courses are available; local MTO offices, public libraries and police detachments are also good sources of information. • DO remember to buckle up, see that young children are in an appropriate car seat, and that older ones and all adult passengers use seat belts. It's the law — and, as of Jan. 1, the penalty for drivers not using a seat belt or ensuring passengers under 16 are properly buckled is not only a fine, but also two demerit points. • DON'T drink and drive -- whether the car is in motion or not. Alcohol makes a lousy addition to your winter survival kit: it causes the blood vessels close to the skin to expand and speeds up the loss of body heat. It also makes you drowsy and you could freeze to death while sleeping. • DON'T brake, steer, change lanes or take other driving actions too quickly. Driver error is still the number one cause of collisions, and that is never more true than in the winter. • DON'T follow too closely. The most common winter mishap is sliding into another vehicle when there isn't enough room to stop safely. Winter conditions often make objects and other hazards much harder to spot. It's a good idea to allow four seconds between your vehicle and the one in front. To check whether you're doing that, select an object at the side of the road and, when the vehicle in In most cases, the road is to be cleared within 24 hours after a snow fall. Sometimes this proves tricky, especially when a prolonged storm drops a lot of snow or extreme cold prevents salt from working effectively. Salt is also used prudently. For the past couple of winters the ministry has concentrated its efforts on protecting the environment by finding ways to use less salt while ensuring safe winter driving for motorists. Last winter alone, salt use was cut by 150,000 tonnes across the front passes it, start counting, "One-thousand-one, one-thousand two..." If you reach the object before getting to one-thousand- four, you're too close. • DON'T get too close to snow plows. They're out there making the roads safer for everyone. Let them do their job. • DON'T panic if you have an emergency on the road. If you don't have a cellular phone to call for help, use emergency flashers, place a warning light on top of your car, or tie a brightly coloured scarf or piece of cloth to the aerial or door handle - anything to make you more visible and attract help. • DON'T over-exert yourself trying to get your car back on the road. A little energy conservation goes a long way to maintaining alertness. • DON'T let all the occupants in your car sleep at the same time if you're stopped. At least one person should remain awake at all times, to check for frostbite on the others and watch for help. • DON'T take unnecessary chances with winter driving. If conditions are poor, or roads, schools and offices are being closed, and if you don't absolutely have to go out, stay home. Business Centre opens The Huron Community Futures Corporation, the Huron Business Development Corporation and the County of Huron has announced the Official Grand Opening of the Huron Business Centre, 138 Main St. S. in Seaforth. In celebration, the public is invited to attend the opening ceremonies, Thursday, Jan. 20. An open house is scheduled from 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. to encourage members of the public to visit the Centre and leant more about the programs and services offered. At 4 p.m., a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place, presided over by local dignitaries and elected officials. All interested individuals are invited to attend. In the event of bad weather, the alternate date for the Official Grand Opening is Friday, Jan. 21. The Huron Business Centre is a co-operative undertaking jointly operated by federal, provincial and county affiliated agencies. The Centre aims to stimulate local job creation and economic revitalization by offering a one-stop access point for community and business development efforts throughout Huron County. province - savings both the environment and approximately $6.5 million in salt costs. Recent budget pressures have added yet another dimension - trying to maintain high-quality road maintenance service without pinching the taxpayer too hard. It isn't easy. "It becomes a judgement call," says Ken Kirchner, manager of the ministry's maintenance office. "A supervisor has to decide at the local level when to send the crews out and when it might be smarter to wait a while. "The only time we don't send our plows out is when there's zero visi­ bility. Other than that, they're out there clearing the roads in almost every kind of winter weather imag­ inable." Kirchner and other winter driving experts recommend that sometimes the safest thing a driver can do is to stay home. The ministry is responsible for reporting winter driving conditions both to local media and to drivers thinking about venturing out on the Plow drivers boldly go Ever wonder how snowplow drivers get to work in a storm? The short answer is they don't. That is, they don't wait until the storm is raging with gale force before heading into work. "We have a weather-tracking system that we watch carefully," says Ken Kirchner, manager of the Ministry of Transportation's maintenance office. "We generally call in the drivers before the conditions begin to deteriorate." Most plow drivers work an eight-hour shift, bur in an emergency they can work up to 16 hours. The ministry supplements its winter maintenance staff and fleet by contracting out to the private sector. "Our maintenance supervisors make all the decisions," Kirchner says. "Ultimately, we are responsible to make sure the job gets done." HEALTH ON THE HILL A review of activities at SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL Happy New Year Please help us celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Seaforth Community Hospital. A fundraiser dinner and dance is being held Saturday, February 5, 1994 at the Seaforth and District Community Centres. Tickets at a cost of $50.00 each will give someone a chance to win the grand prize of a $1,500 vacation voucher and many other door prizes. For tickets or information call 527-1650. At the Nov. 18th, 1993 East Huron Long Term Care Reform Meeting, the Central Long Term Care Committee Terms of Reference were reviewed and areas of concern identified. Terms of Reference for East Huron were drafted. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SAID: I always wanted to... I've been putting this off... The time is right... Maybe I should... □ □ □ □ RETURN TO SCHOOL Make your 1994 New Year's Resolution now and phone the CHSS Adult Education at 482-5922 for an appointment. Find out more about our: computer courses assertiveness training course over 30 high school credit courses flexible time-tables supportive adult environment located in Vanastra Public School 1994....take a step in a new direction road. The ceniral road information switchboard in Toronto can handle many kinds of inquiries. Lccal MTO offices have more detailed information. Ontario Transportation Minister Gilles Pouliot says ministry staff work hard to maintain the quality of Ontario's roads in the winter. "We are very proud of Ontario's high quality of snow removal and winter road maintenance. We have some of the best people available working in every part of the province, both in our offices and out on the roads. "They are an important part of our goal of making Ontario's roads the safest in North America." For road information in both English and French, motorists can call: 416-235-1110. Callers from outside of Toronto dial toll-free 1- 800-268-2376. Cellular phone callers dial toll-free ROAD (7623). Larry Till works in the Communications Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Transporta­ tion.