|
Losing control of your car on wet pavement is a frightening experience. You can prevent skids by driving slowly and carefully,
especially on curves. Steer and brake with a light touch. When you need to stop or slow, do not brake hard or lock the wheels
and risk a skid. Maintain mild pressure on the brake pedal.
If you do find yourself in a skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas, and carefully steer in the direction you want
the front of the car to go. For cars without anti-lock brakes, avoid using your brakes. This procedure, known as "steering
into the skid," will bring the back end of your car in line with the front. If your car has ABS, brake firmly as you
steer into the skid.
While skids on wet pavement may be frightening, hydroplaning is completely nerve-wracking. Hydroplaning happens when the
water in front of your tires builds up faster than your car's weight can push it out of the way. The water pressure causes
your car to rise up and slide on a thin layer of water between your tires and the road. At this point, your car can be completely
out of contact with the road, and you are in danger of skidding or drifting out of your lane, or even off the road.
To avoid hydroplaning, keep your tires properly inflated, maintain good tread on your tires and replace them when necessary,
slow down when roads are wet, and stay away from puddles. Try to drive in the tire tracks left by the cars in front of you.
If you find yourself hydroplaning, do not brake or turn suddenly. This could throw your car into a skid. Ease your foot
off the gas until the car slows and you can feel the road again. If you need to brake, do it gently with light pumping actions.
If your car has anti-lock brakes, then brake normally; the car's computer will mimic a pumping action, when necessary.
A defensive driver adjusts his or her speed to the wet road conditions in time to avoid having to use any of these measures.
Driving at Night
Traffic death rates are three times greater at night than during the day, according to the National Safety Council. Yet many
of us are unaware of night driving's special hazards or don't know effective ways to deal with them.
Why is night driving so dangerous? One obvious answer is darkness. Ninety percent of a driver's reaction depends on vision,
and vision is severely limited at night. Depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised after
sundown.
Older drivers have even greater difficulties seeing at night. A 50-year-old driver may need twice as much light to see
as well as a 30-year old.
Another factor adding danger to night driving is fatigue. Drowsiness makes driving more difficult by dulling concentration
and slowing reaction time.
Alcohol is a leading factor in fatal traffic crashes, playing a part in about half of all motor vehicle-related deaths.
That makes weekend nights more dangerous. More fatal crashes take place on weekend nights than at any other time in the week.
Fortunately, you can take several effective measures to minimize these after-dark dangers by preparing your car and following
special guidelines while you drive.
The National Safety Council recommends these steps:
* Prepare your car for night driving. Keep headlights, tail lights, signal lights and windows (inside and out) clean.
* Have your headlights properly aimed. Mis-aimed headlights blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the
road.
* Don't drink and drive. Not only does alcohol severely impair your driving ability, it also acts as a depressant.
Just one drink can induce fatigue.
* Avoid smoking when you drive. Smoke's nicotine and carbon monoxide hamper night vision.
* If there is any doubt, turn your headlights on. Lights will not help you see better in early twilight, but they'll
make it easier for other drivers to see you. Being seen is as important as seeing.
* Reduce your speed and increase your following distances. It is more difficult to judge other vehicle's speeds and
distances at night.
* Don't overdrive your headlights. You should be able to stop inside the illuminated area. If you're not, you are
creating a blind crash area in front of your vehicle.
* When following another vehicle, keep your headlights on low beams so you don't blind the driver ahead of you.
* If an oncoming vehicle doesn't lower beams from high to low, avoid glare by watching the right edge of the road
and using it as a steering guide.
* Make frequent stops for light snacks and exercise. If you're too tired to drive, stop and get rest.
* If you have car trouble, pull off the road as far as possible. Warn approaching traffic at once by setting up reflecting
triangles near your vehicle and 300 feet behind it. Turn on flashers and the dome light. Stay off the roadway and get passengers
away from the area.
Observe night driving safety as soon as the sun goes down. Twilight is one of the most difficult times to drive, because
your eyes are constantly changing to adapt to the growing darkness.
Summer Car Care
It's summertime, and the livin' may be easy -- but for your car, the heat can mean a lot of added strain.
Keep these topics in mind, when preparing for summer driving:
Overheating | Tire care | Summer storms | Kids and pets | Air quality
Overheating
A common cause of summer breakdowns is overheating. Your cooling system should be completely flushed and refilled as recommended
in your owner's manual. The level, condition, and concentration of the coolant should be checked periodically. (A 50/50 mix
of anti-freeze and water is usually recommended.)
If your car overheats -- or if you are doing regular maintenance at home -- never remove the radiator cap until the engine
has thoroughly cooled! A professional should check the tightness and condition of drive belts, clamps, and hoses.
Tire care
Tire care is especially critical in warm weather because long trips, heavy loads, high speeds and higher temperatures
all put additional stress on your tires.
* Check your tires regularly to be sure there are no visible signs of wear or damage.
* Be sure your tires are properly inflated. Check your tire pressure often with a gauge, especially on long trips.
Measure when the tires are cold, before you drive on them. You can find the recommended inflation pressure in your owner's
manual, on a label frequently found in the glove box, near the door latch on the driver's side, or other locations on your
vehicle. The recommended inflation pressure is not to be confused with the maximum inflation pressure shown on the side of
the tire. At the recommended inflation pressure, tires will last longer and be less likely to fail, and the car will use less
fuel. Serious injury can result from tire failure because of under inflation or overloading.
* Never overload your vehicle. Your car and tires are designed to operate safely only up to their load limits. These
limits are shown in your owner's manual and on the certification plate on the edge of the driver's door.
* Make sure there is enough tread on the tire to operate safely, and make sure the tires are wearing normally. All
grooves should be visible and deep enough to at least touch the top of Lincoln's head on a penny inserted head first in the
tread. Low tread or bald tires are unsafe and need to be replaced.
* If some spots on the tire seem to be wearing faster than others, see your service station or mechanic. You could
have misaligned wheels, worn shock absorbers, or other potential problems. Make sure your tires are aligned and balanced properly.
* Don't drive at a high rate of speed for a long time, particularly in hot weather. Obey posted speed limits. Lower
speeds also mean better gas mileage.
Summer storms
Summer storms can crop up suddenly and present substantial hazards on the road. Follow these safety tips when severe weather
hits:
* Flash flooding: When driving, know the depth of water in a dip before crossing. Be aware that the road bed may not
be intact under the water. If the vehicle stalls, abandon it immediately; seek higher ground. Rapidly rising water may engulf
the vehicle and its occupants and sweep them away.
* Tornadoes: Leave your vehicle, and go to a substantial shelter. If there is no shelter nearby, lie flat in the nearest
ditch, ravine, or culvert with your hands shielding your head. Be alert for rapidly rising waters in the ditch.
* Rain: Get tips for handling skids and hydroplaning
Protecting children and pets
On hot days, the temperature inside vehicles can climb rapidly and may exceed 100 degrees. Be very careful with children
and pets -- even when you're at home and the car is parked.
* Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows down.
* Teach children not to play in, on, or around cars.
* Always lock car doors and trunks -- even at home -- and keep keys out of children's reach.
* Always make sure all child passengers have left the car when you reach your destination. Don't overlook sleeping
infants.
* When securing your child in a safety restraint system in a car that has been parked in the heat, check to make sure
seating surfaces and equipment (child safety seat and safety belt buckles) aren't too hot.
* Use a light covering to shade the seat of your parked car. Consider using shades on windows.
Air quality
Summer sunshine, heat and car exhaust create a toxic cocktail -- ozone pollution. Ozone can cause respiratory problems
and even permanent lung damage. Here are some steps you can take to cut down on pollution when you drive:
* Drive less, especially during peak traffic periods or hot days.
* Avoid revving or idling engine over 30 seconds.
* Fill gas tank during cooler evening hours to cut down on evaporation.
* Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned.
* Get more tips for your home and car in our Air Quality section.
How's the air where you live? Check our Air Quality forecasts.
Driving in Snow and Ice
The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it. Don't go out until the snow
plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.
If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared (get tips for winterizing your car here), and that
you know how to handle road conditions. It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so
you're familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle.
Driving safely on icy roads
* Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space
than usual between you and the car in front of you.
* Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
* Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
* Keep your lights and windshield clean.
* Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
* Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
* Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures
above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
* Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road
in front of them worse than the road behind.
* Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter
trouble on winter roads.
If your rear wheels skid...
* Take your foot off the accelerator.
* Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're
sliding right, steer right.
* If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might
have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
* If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
* If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the
brakes pulse -- this is normal.
If your front wheels skid...
* Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.
* As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction
you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.
If you get stuck...
* Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
* Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
* Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
* Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
* Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
* Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first -- it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift
from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.
* If you are stranded, follow these tips.
Winterize Your Car
Driving in the winter means snow, sleet and ice that can lead to slower traffic, hazardous road conditions, hot tempers and
unforeseen dangers. To help you make it safely through winter, here are some suggestions from the National Safety Council
to make sure that you and your vehicle are prepared.
Weather
At any temperature -- 20° Fahrenheit below zero or 90° Fahrenheit above -- weather affects road and driving conditions
and can pose serious problems. It is important to monitor forecasts on the Web, radio, TV, cable weather channel, or in the
daily papers.
Your Car
Prepare your car for winter. Start with a checkup that includes:
* Checking the ignition, brakes, wiring, hoses and fan belts.
* Changing and adjusting the spark plugs.
* Checking the air, fuel and emission filters, and the PCV valve.
* Inspecting the distributor.
* Checking the battery.
* Checking the tires for air, sidewall wear and tread depth.
* Checking antifreeze levels and the freeze line.
Your car should have a tune-up (check the owner's manual for the recommended interval) to ensure better gas mileage, quicker
starts and faster response on pick-up and passing power.
Necessary Equipment
An emergency situation on the road can arise at any time and you must be prepared. In addition to making sure you have
the tune-up, a full tank of gas, and fresh anti-freeze, you should carry the following items in your trunk:
* Properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench and tripod-type jack
* Shovel
* Jumper cables
* Tow and tire chains
* Bag of salt or cat litter
* Tool kit
Essential Supplies
Be prepared with a "survival kit" that should always remain in the car. Replenish after use. Essential supplies
include:
* Working flashlight and extra batteries
* Reflective triangles and brightly-colored cloth
* Compass
* First aid kit
* Exterior windshield cleaner
* Ice scraper and snow brush
* Wooden stick matches in a waterproof container
* Scissors and string/cord
* Non-perishable, high-energy foods like unsalted canned nuts, dried fruits, and hard candy.
In addition, if you are driving long distances under cold, snowy, and icy conditions, you should also carry supplies to
keep you warm such as heavy woolen mittens, socks, a cap and blankets.
If You Become Stranded...
* Do not leave your car unless you know exactly where you are, how far it is to possible help, and are certain you
will improve your situation.
* To attract attention, light two flares and place one at each end of the car a safe distance away. Hang a brightly
colored cloth from your antenna.
* If you are sure the car's exhaust pipe is not blocked, run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes every hour
or so depending upon the amount of gas in the tank.
* To protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia use the woolen items and blankets to keep warm.
* Keep at least one window open slightly. Heavy snow and ice can seal a car shut.
* Eat a hard candy to keep your mouth moist.
Driving in Fog
Fog can be thought of as a cloud at ground level. It forms when the temperature drops to the dew point (the temperature at
which air is saturated), and invisible water vapor in the air condenses to form suspended water droplets. Fog can reduce visibility
to 1/4 mile or less, creating hazardous driving conditions. If you can't postpone your trip until dense fog lifts -- usually
by late morning or the afternoon -- follow these tips:
* Drive with lights on low beam. High beams will only be reflected back off the fog and actually impair visibility
even more.
* Reduce your speed -- and watch your speedometer. Fog creates a visual illusion of slow motion when you may actually
be speeding.
* Listen for traffic you cannot see. Open your window a little, to hear better.
* Use wipers and defrosters as necessary for maximum visibility.
* Use the right edge of the road or painted road markings as a guide.
* Be patient. Do not pass lines of traffic.
* Do not stop on a freeway or heavily traveled road. If your car stalls or becomes disabled, turn your vehicle's lights
off, and take your foot off of the brake pedal. People tend to follow tail lights when driving in fog. Move away from the
vehicle to avoid injury.
Copyright Amistedga 2004-2006
|
