The White Falcon - 10.10.1980, Blaðsíða 4

Page 4 The White Falcon October ,1980
October 10, 1980 The White Falcon Page 5
Ice can be deceiving--go slow
Be gentle on snow--locking your brakes can lead to trouble
Driving in winter
require breaking
old suflnerVabits
If the only kind of driving we ever did was the win-
ter kind—on ice and snow, in rain and sleet—we'd all
be good at it. The trouble is eight or nine
months of the year we're busy forgetting the feel of
winter driving. Then one frigid day, there we are
clutching the wheel and treading the thin line between
traction and skid...peering into the falling snow and
remembering the wiper blades need replacing and
the brakes have been pulling to the left a little.
Don't let this happen to you this year. Begin now
and winterize your automobile.
Tires are always critical, but especially so in the
winter. Icelandic law requires more than regular tires
to be used when driving on ice and snow. The following
options are all legal, range in priority of safety and
are applicable to vehicles less than 7,726 lbs.: stud-
ded snow tires on four wheels accompanied by chains on
all four wheels; studded snow tires on all four wheels
with chains on the drive wheels; studded snow tires on
all four wheels; regular winter tread tires on all four
wheels with chains on all four wheels; regular winter
tread tires with chains on drive wheels; regular winter
tread tires only on all four wheels; and summer tread
tires on all four wheels accompanied by chains on
either all four wheels or drive wheels only. Remember,
chains must be removed when roads are clear. But sum-
mer treads do not provide adequate traction on ice and
snow and are unsafe for winter driving. The Naval Sta-
tion Security Department suggests that four studded
snow tires are most desirable for driving in normal
winter conditions on the Agreed Area.
Brakes are eq
your brakes chec
one side. It ma;
and this could cad?
u^B^important^H^s.
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au^^^iandling p^^^^m
important aspect of
safe driving. Have
uneven pulling to
ven tire pressure,
ferns.
winter driving is
Another
visibility. In freezing weather you will need an
antifreeze solution in your windshield washer. Rubber
blades that are aged and cracked by hot summer sun are
likely to streak the windshield Even good blades
do a poor job if the arm tension is inadequate.
If your car is covered with snow, don't just scratch
a peephole in the windshield and figure it's good
enough. Brush snow completely off the front, back
and side glass. Brush off the top and the hood of the
car, so it won't be dusting back on your windshield and
rear window.
Even with a fully-winterized automobile, the most
important factor for safety during the winter driving
season is you—the driver behind the wheel. When
driving on snow or ice-covered roads, practice gentle
acceleration, gentle braking and gentle maneuvering.
Try not to break the very tenuous traction between
tires and slick ice, packed snow, loose snow, even just
plain wet pavement.
Go easy when you stop. Allow yourself room to begin
stopping sooner than you do on bare pavement (see chart
on page five). Remember to brake gently, not hard.
And if your wheels do lock and you start to slide, pump
the brakes. This allows the wheels to turn and pro-
vides some steering control. If your car goes into a
skid, always turn the wheel into the direction of the
skid while decreasing the speed. Skids can happen at
anytime, so be prepared for them.
So there you have it. With ^^vehicle in good order
and some simple ^^^kcmcnts driving practices,
with
BRAKING DISTANCE IN FEET
- AT 20 MPH
(AFTER YOU GET YOUR FOOT ON THE PEDAL)
REINFORCED TIRE CHAIN
50' 100' 150' 200'
60/ REGULAj 1 t TIRES
52' SNOW \ IRES LOOSELY I PACKED I
46' REGULA 1 TIRE C MAINS
38' 1 REINF0 RCED TIR i CHAIN! 1
For comparison, the braking distance of regular tires on dry pave-
ment at the same speed is 21 feet. Reaction time averages % of a
second and adds another 22 feet to the figures shown.
Traffic Conditions
ALPHA: (Normal) Permits all cate-
gories of traffic at normal speeds
adapted to existing conditions.
ALPHA LIMITED: (Normal) Permits all
categories of traffic but at the re-
duced speed of 20 MPH.
BRAVO: (Hazardous) Permits emer-
gency and essential traffic at re-
duced speeds. Essential is defined
as official vehicles, utility
vehicles, and private vehicular
traffic as necessary to and from
work. Either tire chains or snow
tires on all four wheels required.
CHARLIE: (Emergency) Permits only
emergency traffic equipped with
tire chains at the reduced speed of
15 MPH. Emergency vehicles are de-
fined as snow removal equipment,
sanders, ambulances, fire department
vehicles, aircraft refuelers,
Security Police vehicles, Command
and duty vehicles and other govern-
ment vehicles on urgent and official
business.
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yijv Bfev \
wJiJM
Clean all glass for better visibility