HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-10-29, Page 33Distractions
cause accidents
Motor vehicle accidents don't just happen, they're caused.
In most cases, the cause is inattention: failure to notice a stop signal; forgetting to check
the side view mirror before passing; ignoring road and weather conditions. All momentary
lapses in attention that get us and others into trouble.
Inattention may be caused by our own actions, the actions of passengers, happenings out-
side the car, and objects inside the car.
I'll bet most of us have been guilty of at least one of the following lapses while driving;
eating, day dreaming, talking and looking at a passenger instead of at the road, reading,
writing, fiddling with a radio or tape deck, lighting a cigarette, using the rear view mirror to
comb hair, put on make-up, or straighten a tie.
How many times have you been swept away by a tune on the radio or lulled into a reverie
by the sunshine only to look down aghast at the speedometer?
Travelling with children can be distracting because kids are carefree and, since they've
never driven a car, don't realize how bothersome — even dangerous - noise and roughhous-
ing can be.
Kids should be securely buckled in and quiet when the car is in motion. Noiseless past
times like colouring, or playing with soft, harmless toys usually keep children happy. But, if
they still have excess energy to burn, pit stops or a sing song at- half volume might do the
rick. Anything to keep,them from driving you to distraction.
Driying can sometimes be a boring chore. Because of this, our roving eyes are easily
drawn to events outside the car, a pretty girl, an accident, somebody walking a dog.
While we rubber neck, we may travel several hundred feet, without realizing it. If we had
to stop suddeRly or take evasive action to avoid a collision, we wouldn't be able to.
Loose objects rolling around the floor of the car are potentially deadly. If a pop bottle or a
can of juice falls out of a grocery bag and rolls under the gas or brake pedal, you've got a
serious problem on your_ hands. Parcels that crowd you as you drive, a crowded front seat,
and window scrapers that become entangled between your feet are all hazardous distrac-
tions that could cause an accident.
Stow all potentially dangerous objects in the trunk.
And finally, loose seats, broken window cranks, defective defrosters, and anything else
mechanical that diverts your attention from driving,_should get,immediate attention from
your technician.
Hi -tech
are in the works
Nage 11
ae' cident?•A.
Don 't let confu$ion reign
do so. Otherwise, render whatever
assistance you can to those who are trained.
Each province has its own criteria for
whether or not an accident must be reported
to the police. Nevertheless, it's a safe bet
that the police should be notified if.
anybody's injured or if the damage is con
siderable, With the high cost of replacemen
parts these days, it doesn't take much fo
the damage to be considerable. When i
doubt, call the police.
Get the particulars of any independen
witnesses, and their version of whaj
happened,
Exchange ownership driver'k licence an
insurance particulars with other drivers
and obtain the names and addresses of an
injured people, the nature of their injurie
and where they were taken for emergenc
treatment.
Motor vehicle collisions can often end u
in court, traffic — civil or both - usual'
months, if not years, later. The only wa
you're going to remember what happened i
if you've made a simple diagram of wha
happened and have jotted down note
describing what you and the others involve
did..
Write it down
presence by setting out flares and turning on Part' of your written observations shoul
your emergency flashers. Since gasoline include the type of road the accident occur -
and other flammable liquids are often spill- red on, what sort of shape it was in, weather
ed in a collision, don't smoke or set flares conditions and if they contributed to the ac -
too near the scene. cident, whether it was night or day, foggy or
Naturally, all occupants of vehicles that clear, and how heavy the traffic in the area
are on fire, no matter how small or seeming- was. In fact, anything that might have some
ly innocent the flames, should get out bearing on the outcome of the trial.
immediately. Of course, the best advice is to attempt to
Summon emergency treatment for avoid accidents altogether, by practicing
anyone who is injured. In many cases, the defensive driving skills. But, sometimes
best you can do is make them comfortable even your best efforts aren't enough to keep
until the ambulance arrives. Perform road- you out of trouble. And, in such cases, it
side first aid only if you have been trained to helps to know what to do.
Motor vehicle accidents have an unplea-
sant way of happening all of a sudden. In the
ensuing confusion, we can sometimes forget
what we should do to satisfy the laW, our in-
surance agents and, frankly, to protect our
own interests.
So here, before the adrenalin starts to
flow, are a few reminders.
Your responsibilities
While laws relating to a driver's respon-
sibilities at an accident scene vary slightly
from province to province, on one point
there seems to be general agreement: that
the driver should stick around and render
whatever assistance is possible to others at
the svne. Also, that youshould provide
your name, address, and those of the owner
of the vehicle you were driving, as well as
the licence plate number, to the in-
vestigating officer, and others directly in-
volved in the collision.
In the agony of the moment, it's easy to
forget your car was in gear and probably in
Motion when the collision occurred;
chances are, it still is. So, turn off the igni-
tion to prevent your car from lurching once
again into motion.
Warn other vehicles !sing the road of your
Imagine how much simpler life would be for drivers if they knew what
lay ahead. If, for instance, they could detour before they got stuck in
bumper to bumper traffic.
Well, it may seem too good to be true. But the days of helpless motorists
caught on a highway "parking lot" are numbered. And they won't need
ESP, because message signs will warn drivers of trouble ahead, and sug-
gest alternate routes.
In fact, the system already exists on the QEW through Mississauga and
it's so successful it will be installed on the notoriously busy Highway 401
Wcross Metro Toronto.
The $19 -million Freeway Traffic Management System (FTMS) will
make use of the most modern equipment available to monitor traffic con-
ditions. It will locate traffic jams and allow operators to alert and re-
route motorists while directing police and other emergency personnel to
the scene.
To do this, FTMS will employ remotely controlled closed circuit televi-
sion cameras, electronic vehicle detectors, changeable message signs
and lane controls signs placed strategically along the highway. These
elements will be connected via a fibre optics communications network to
the Downsview control centre.
In turn, the control centre computer will be connected to MTC
maintenance operations, the OPP detachment (at Keele and the 401), the
Metro Traffic Control Centre and participating media representatives.
The system is designed to serve a four -fold purpose.
- maximize the person and goods movement capability of the highway;
— minimize the number and severity of traffic accidents;
— reduce fuel consumption, and,
— improve the ability of MTC and other agencies to monitor and res-
pond to traffic incidents.
For years, highways have been forced to handle ever-increasing
volumes of traffic. It's a situation likely to get worse. The tremendous
cost notwithstanding, it's impossible to widen many major highways
because the existing roadway has already assumed the entire right of
way. In short, there's no room to expand.
Enter FTMS.
In 1975, a pilot project was installed on the QEW extending from
Southdown Rd. to- Highway 10 and later expanded from Royal Windsor
Drive to Cawthra
Turn to page 12 •
What to
do when.
RADIATOR FREEZES ,
This is indicated if the temperature gauge
registers boiling or the warning light comes
on shortly after starting. Turn off the
engine, open the hood and feel the radiator
hose.
If frozen, it will feel solid. Use caution if
•.
you remove the radiator cap. Melt the ice in
the radiator by pouring warm water over it.
Watch for radiator leaks; if you lose any
water, drive your car to a service station for..
a checkup.
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