Loading...
Huron Expositor, 2001-01-10, Page 5News THE HURON EXPOSITOR, January 10, 2001-5 Course to help fight skidding By Scott Hilgendorff Expositor Editor A slippery patch of slush catches the tires and suddenly your car starts to turn sideways as the back and comes around and you know you're about to lose control. What do you do? "People panic right away. They give up on the skid and hit the break," said Blaine Dornan, a Huron County Driving School instructor who is planning a skid control school to help motorists cope with the poor driving conditions that have taken hold in the region. "They think the break is going to stop them," said Dornan, who lives in Harpurhey. But hitting the breaks is just about the worst thing a driver could do in a skid, he said. It locks up the wheels and takes away almost any chance a driver has of getting back control of the vehicle. "I think I would panic too," said Dornan, accept he has learned what to do in a slippery situation and hasn't felt the panic of losing control of his car in years. When a driver loses control of his car, he needs to keep his eyes on the road while shifting his car to neutral and getting his hand back to the wheel as quickly as possible. At the same time, he should have taken his foot off the gas pedal and brought it back to his seat, avoiding the urge to jam his foot down on the break to try and get the car to stop. Dornan said the driver then needs to try steering the car into the direction of the skid. being careful to use only quarter turns of the wheel to avoid causing the car to fishtail. Next to breaking, oversteering can also ruin any chances of getting out of the skid. And all of this happens in a few seconds which is why Dornan said drivers need to practice handling skids so the actions of putting the car in neutral and steering out of it become as instinctive as other aspects of daily driving. Dornan himself retrains himself at the start of every winter so he is on top of winter driving practices that become rusty after months of regular road conditions. After throwing countless students into sudden skids with his passenger side brake, Dornan said there have only been a few times they have had to get the training car out of a snowbank or ditch because the students have been able to get the car back in control. However, a lot can be done to avoid ending up in a skid in the first place. ''People don't use the common sense stuff like slowing down," said Dornan of drivers on the roads when conditions get slippery. And if the weather is bad and you're not comfortable driving in those conditions, don't go out, he said. "Slow down and take your time. If a turn's coming up ahead, slow down," said Dornan of some common sense tips to keeping.your car on a snow covered road. He said people need to anticipate what's coming. 'If HURON MASSAGE THERAPY CLINIC Janine Lavoie, s.Sc; RM'r For appt. Thurs. or Sat. call 527-0780 Total Image II Scott Hiigendorff photo Blaine Dornan avoids an -obstacle" in a skid, part of what will be taught at an upcoming course to help drivers cope with winter roads. they see a slushy patch or a drift in the road, the time to hit the breaks is while the car is still on pavement, not after the slush has grabbed hold of the wheels. He said the same works when approaching a hill on snowy roads; the time to break is before you start going down the hill. When a truck is approaching, slow down and be ready for the white out it could cause in its wake if the weather is snowy. And being aware of black ice can help too. Dornan said it forms particularly in the early morning or late afternoon to early evening, when the temperature has dropped or is at its lowest. Dornan believes many of this winter's accidents and ditchings could have been avoided if drivers used more common sense on winter roads. After being spoiled by several years of short winters with little snow, Dornan said, drivers need to learn to take it easy when travelling and practice safer winter driving. He's hoping the course will help train some drivers in how to better handle the winter roads and said not only does he already have several students registered but many parents and male drivers are signing up for the course. The course will take place at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton on Jan. 20 starting at 9 a.m. Following three hours of ii -class lessons, students will meet at a former parade square in From Pogo 1 Milder conditions Phillips says Ontario residents should be pleased with the long-range weather in long-range forecast which points to milder conditions. Frigid temperatures experienced in forecast 1956, 1981 and 1989 were followed by milder than normal conditions for January and February. Since a similar weather pattern was experienced by most of Huron County, Phillips said people should be in for a bit of a break. "The 30 day outlook calls for slightly warmer than normal temperatures," said Phillips. "If people are a bit more patient they might be into more balmy conditions." County needs to clean up its image, says councillor By Sarah Caldwell Goderich Signal -Star Staff Huron County is "not very bright," is the public perception that is out there across the province and something needs to be done about it, county councillor Deb Shewfelt, mayor of Goderich challenged. Shewfelt stressed to his fellow councillors at the first Fewer charged in RIDE spot checks Fewer vehicles were stopped in RIDE checks for drunk drivers this yew -during the five-week, holiday blitz. OPP stopped 6,831 vehicles at checkpoints across the county compared to 9,410 last year. Seven people were charged with impaired driving offences compared to nine last year and 10 12 -hour suspensions were issued compared to 14 last year. Despite more than 3,000 fewer vehicles checked than last year, OPP said the decrease in the number of people caught for drunk driving indicated, "that people did take advantage of free taxi rides or found other ways of getting home other than driving." More accidents take place OPP report extreme winter weather conditions have led to an increase in the number of accidents taking place on area roads. In .2000, 153 collisions were reported with one fatality and 24 people being injured in 17 of those accidents. Last year, there were 102 collisions with no fatalities and 18 people hurt in 12 of those accidents. In addition to an earlier, stormier winter, increasing deer populations also resulted in more deer/motor vehicle collisions than last year. official meeting of county council for 2001 that the county needs to "bring up its image." "Perception plays a big part in politics," said Shewfelt. The county should "look hard at how it is perceived,.the message is "we are not very bright." He said when he travels around Ontario and meets with other municipal leader, the image Huron County is putting forth is "not very good," especially in regards to the takeover of management. of land ambulance services. Clerk -administrator Lynn Murray said the county is in a tough position with the paramedic hiring issues because they are a public body. One of the problems with public perception, Murray said, is there are not the same constraints on the unions as there is on the county as a public body. "We can't get into it (the debate) in a public way because it is a personnel issue," said Murray. Personnel issues are dealt with in camera and are not open to the media. Shewfelt however wasn't satisfied by this answer and pressed further said "I've dealt with unions and been in a union but you can still make sure there's a positive public perception." DM Donnelly & Murphy Barristers & Solicitors We are pleased to announce Greg Stewart has joined the legal team at Donnelly & Murphy Called to the bar in 1983 after completing studies at the University of Windsor, Mr. Stewart was a partner with Bondy Riley Koski Stewart in Windsor. Mr. Stewart will continue his 18 year practice in municipal, labour and family law. 18 The Square, Goderich, Ontario Phone: (519) 524-2154 Fax: (519) 5248550 email: admin@dmlaw.on.ca A Tradition of Results Vanastra where they will have a chance to practice skids. Dornan can be reached at 522-0165 for more information. PIANO TUNING • REP.;;R • REE3L LCi',;, • KEN`.) R�CO'.ERED • D:ML'PP CH•":SERS • REGLL,+TI'JG • 5Er;CHES BRUCE P3169223ULSLFER �arct ui NOTICE For the convenience of our clients SEAFORTH VETERINARY CLINIC will be open THURSDAY EVENINGS by appointment only Please call for appointments 519-527-1760 r 23 Main St., Seaforth 527-1117 "The Best. Quality for the Best Price" Supporting local producers of quality products Enter our monthly DRAW AN. $25. Cauliflower 61.99 ea. Naval Oranges $1.O91b. Romaine or Head Lettuce $1.39ea. CUT AND SAVE Bring in this ad & save 10 lb. White Potatoes Reg. $2.29 $1.59 2 lb. CarrotsReg. .99'.69( 2 ib. Cooking Onions Reg .89' .59( J Free delivery for seniors and shut ins ALL WINTER FASHIONS ARE... *50 0/0 TO V V OFF UNTIL WED., JAN 17 5:00 P.M. *excluding socks, underwear and belts ALL SALES FINAL CLOSING THURSDAY, JAN. 18 REOPENING MONDAY MARCH 5 (LABIBS&IIENS 30 Main St., Seaforth 1 FASHIONS 527-0278 HURON EAST Winter Recreation Programs 2001 FURNITURE REFINISHING MONDAYS BEGINNING JANUARY 8, 2001 7:00 to 9:00 pm each night at the Seaforth District High School for 10 weeks. Registration fee will be 540.00 DOG OBEDIENCE TUESDAYS BEGINNING JANUARY 9, 2001 Dog Obedience will be held at the Seaforth & District Community Centres 7:00 to 8:00 pm. will be Beginners and 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. will be the Agility Class. Registration fee will be $45.00. for each class. Please bring your dog on the first night. MIXED BASKETBALL THURSDAY EVENINGS beginning JANUARY 11, 2001 from 8:00 to 10:00 pm at the Seaforth District High School. 10 weeks for 530.00 WOOD WORKING TUEDAYS BEGINNING JANUARY 9, 2001 7:00 to 9:00 pm each night at the Seaforth District High School for 10 weeks. Registration fee will be 545.00 FITNESS IS FUN TUESDAY AND THURSDAY MORNINGS FROM 9:00 TO 10:00 am beginning JANUARY 9, 2001. at the Seaforth k District Community Centre. Instructor Nevla Scott will guide you through 10 weeks of Low impact aerobics using weights and dyna bands. Registration fee will be $65.00 for 2 times per week or 540.00 for one time per week. MIXED VOLLEYBALL WEDNESDAY EVENINGS beginning JANUARY 10, 2001 from 8:00 to 10:00 pm at the Seaforth District High School for 10 weeks. Registration Fee will be 530.00 LEARN TO DANCE WEDNESDAY EVENINGS beginning JANUARY 10, 2001 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Seaforth & District Community Centres. This 10 week program will cost 5100.00 per couple and you will learn the Two Step, Waltz and Polka. Please come with a partner. 0 STEP AEROBIC TRAINING WEDNESDAY EVENINGS FROM 7:00 TO 8:00 pm beghming JANUARY 10, 2001 at IIthe Seaforth & District Community ' Centres. Instructor Kae Huberts will guide you through 10 weeks of High Impact IP aerobia usirgt the step with weights. Registration ke will be 140.00. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR REGISTRATION ON ANY OF THE ABOVE PROGRAMS PLEASE CALL THE COMMUNITY CENTRES AT 527.0882 OR 5274272 OR DROP INTO THE OFFICE ANYTIME BETWEEN 8:30 am and 10.30 pm. •