The Citizen, 2016-10-20, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016.
Visibility, comfort drops
or drivers after dark
Darkness and driving
Driving at night can be a completely different experience than driving during the daylight hours
and, with the shortening daylight, night time driving becomes more and more prevalent in the
winter seasons. Aside from the possibility of exhaustion later in the day and early in the night,
there are many factors that can contribute to more dangerous night time driving including
interior lights, smoking and proper -working headlights. (MS photo)
MS - Traffic accidents can occur
at any time of day. But while many
drivers are comfortable driving
during daylight hours, that comfort According to a 2016 study, 43
level drops when the sun goes down percent of motor vehicle crash
and visibility is reduced. deaths in the U.S. in 2014 occurred
Tips for safe winter driving
NC - Icy, snowy roads are
something we have to deal with
across the country, but there are easy
ways you can increase your safety
and car control.
Darryl Croft, automotive
maintenance expert at OK Tire,
offers his top bad weather driving
tips:
• Know your vehicle: Every
vehicle is different, so learning
about your car's braking system and
tire traction can help you understand
how it will perform in slippery or
snowy driving conditions. When
reading your car's manual look for
words such as rear wheel, front
wheel, or four-wheel drive, as well
as anti-lock braking system, to better
understand how your vehicle will
respond to a skid.
• Snow removal is essential:
Before getting in your car, it's
essential that you clear snow and ice
from everything — windows,
mirrors, lights, roof and even your
boots. This will help prevent
unremoved snow from sliding
forward and blocking visibility
during braking or melting and
fogging up windows.
• Mind the gap: Anyone who has
driven in winter knows changing
lanes in snowy conditions can be
challenging. Minimizing your
steering angle when merging can
help you avoid the ridge of snow that
may have built up between lanes
from pulling your tires. In slippery
conditions, tripling or quadrupling
your gap between vehicles can also
help you avoid a nasty collision.
• Don't panic: Even careful and
experienced drivers can skid. When
you find yourself skidding, keep
eyes on the road and where you want
to go. Don't make sudden, jerking
movements of the wheel, accelerator
or brake (common things to do when
panicking) and keep feet steady.
• Don't spin out: If you find
yourself stuck, don't spin your
wheels as this can dig you deeper
into the snow. Try edging yourself
free by gently rocking your car back
and forth by shifting into forward
and reverse. To regain steering
control, take your foot off the brake
and focus on gently steering towards
the direction you want to go. Ease
off the gas pedal and wait for the
wheels to grip the road before
carefully accelerating.
• Beware of all -season tires:
They may sound like a huge cost -
saver, but all -season tires are not
designed for rough winter
conditions. Winter tires work best
TIME FOR WINTER TIRES & TO GET YOUR BRAKES SERVICED
Complete Mechanical Service
Computerized Tune -Ups
Snow Tires - Mufflers - Brakes
Vehicle Inspection Station
DAN'S AUTO REPAIR
RR #3 Blyth (39155 Westfield Rd.)
519-523-4356
when temperatures dip below 7°C
and offer the best traction, handling,
and braking — especially when it
comes to shorter braking distances.
Croft points out that if driving
conditions are really bad, avoiding
driving altogether is your safest bet.
A regular pre -winter inspection by
an auto service provider can also
ensure your vehicle can tackle the
roads safely.
between the hours of 6 p.m. and 3
a.m. While various factors
contributed to those deaths, poor
visibility was certainly among them,
as many drivers simply don't see as
well when driving at night as they do
when driving during the day.
Some motorists who are
uncomfortable driving at night avoid
the roads altogether once the sun
goes down. But that's not an option
for the millions of drivers across the
globe who must drive at night for
personal or professional reasons.
Remaining alert at all times and
obeying traffic laws are great ways
to stay safe when driving at night,
and the following are some
additional strategies that can help
motorists make nighttime driving
more safe.
• Test your headlights: Many
drivers go years without inspecting
or replacing their headlights or
headlight bulbs. Conduct routine
Continued on page 17
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