77.

PAGE As, THE HERALD, Wednesday, November 17, 1976

Winter driving in B.C.

for safe winter driving,
Flares are adviseable in
case of breakdown or ac-
cident, and in addition, a Gime
flashlight, a shovel, first ald  #

7

Peek Ree -

. Works Minister Alex V.
* Fraser said recently his
“department will continue to
provide traditionally high
standards of winter
maintenance on British
Columbia's highways and at
the same time asked that
users of these highways
reassess driving techniques,
emphasizing safety and a
responsible attitude.

Some 2,000 workers and
an equal nurnber of pieces of
equipment suc as
snowplows and sanding
units will be on the job this
winter, assuring clear roads
for British Columbia’s
1,500,000 drivers, at a cost of
several millions of dollars.

Most highways districts
will be on a three-shift
system, thereby assuring
clear roads on a round-the-
clock basis in B.C. The
three-shift system, which
was augmented last year, is
found to be more
economically feasible as
well as providing better
usage of manpower and
equipment.

Snow-covered roads are
plowed and sanded on a
priority basis, trunk, main
and major roads with high
average daily
heading the list, followed by
school bus routes and lesser
roads, and finally, all other
maintained roads.

During icy conditions,
sand and chemical is a
plied on a priority basis, hill
and problem grades getting
the tirst attention. Curves
posted less than the highway
speed limit are next on the
list, followed by railroad
and bridge crossings and all
other curves and potentially
hazardous road areas.

Priorities are applicable
regardless of the time of
day, and, during storms,
often involves repeat
clearing or sand and
chemical application.

It is during the course of
such operations that drivers
should use extreme caution.

Frequent encounters with
snowplow units on the main
highways can be an-
ticipated, such units usually
being truck plows. Graders
and cats will also be en-
countered, most frequentl
during January throug
March.

*

1,

Highways Department

eguipment on such duties
are easily identified. All are
equipped with warning
“lights, flashing amber lights
-and yeliow and black
stripping on the rear.

Extreme caution should
be used in overtaking or
passing snowplow equip-
ment or sanding equipment,
usually travelling partly or
wholly in traffic lanes.

There are times however,
when drivers should not
attempt to pass or over-take
snowplow or sanding

; equipment.

Such instances include
“no passing” zones, where
‘, visibility is poor because of
fog or flying snow, on a
steep grade where loss of
control may cause a hazard
to appreaching traffic in the
opposing Jane, while a sand
spinner is operating
because of the possibility al
windshield damage, or
finally, if the road is par-
ticularly icy and loss of
control in overtaking could
endanger other users of the
road.

Highways and Public -

traffic

‘ three or four car

There is another period of
danger which extreme
caution should be used, and
that is during night driving
conditions, especially
during snow storms. Poor
visibility, other automobile
lights and warning lights of
departmental equipment
can often confuse a driver.

Drivers who travel in
winter and who recognize
and respect nature’s tan-
trums, should assure safe
arrival at their destination
by seeing ta it that vehicles
are in condition to do what is
expected under the con-
ditions at hand.

In winter, anti-freeze and
a check of radiator and
hoses, is a must in the B.C.
Interior and indeed, in areas
noted for milder climate,
which can turn cold quicker
than it is possible to install.
the anti-freeze. :

Headlights, brakes,
windshield wipers, . general
mechanical condition and
exhaust systems must be in
first class working condition

We think of tailgating as
deliberately and annoyingly
riding the tail of the car
ahead in an attempt to push
it faster or make it move
over. While this is the most
vicious form of tailgating it
is by no means the only one
or the most common. You
can be a conscientious
driver moving along with
lengths
between you and the vehicle
ahead and still be tailgating
if you cannot stop when you
have to. The trick is
knowing how much distance
is a safe distance.

The daylight hours are
shorter now and visibility is
limited. Frequently drivers
are travelling at speeds
where stopping distance
exceeds the distance they
ean see. Any traffic con-
dition that causes a sudden
slowdown can trigger the

most spectacular and
Massive of highway
disasters — the chain-

reaction pileup... -
As you arive along, a

. danger zone moves

you. This zone includes the
distance in front in which
you cannot stop and the
distance in back in which
the following driver cannot
step. This multiple chain-
reaction collision almost
invariably involves two
separate and potentially
devastating crashes — you
pile into the car ahead and
someone hehind piles into
you. If the first does not kill
you the second may.

At 55 mph with good
brakes and tires on a dry,
level, paved surface it takes
230 feet — about 13 average
car lengths to stop and that
is after you have applied the
brakes. The period it takes
your mind to react to danger
and your foot to get on the
brake increases the
distance. At 55 mph a car
covers about 80 feet every
second. Worn tires, poor
brakes, slipper toad
surfaces multiply your
stopping problems. Many
drivers feel that two or three
car lengths are an adequate
space cushion and gamble

ir lives — and yours — on
that assumption. .

The generally accepted

safety rule now is to

kit, warm clothing and a
blanket or two will show the
mark of a responsible driver
in winter.

There are areas in British
Columbia where failure or

neglect in anyone of these

‘ety measures could cost
you your life.

Finally, on long trips, the
responsible driver sees that
his gas tank is full when
traversing areas where
filling stations are minimal.

These are the basic
requirements for the
motorist with the exception
of good physical condition.
In winter,
seasons, alcohol and fatigue

have no place behind the |

wheel. If you have been
drinking or you are tired —

don’t drive.
If drivers will obey these
rules, Department

simple 1
Highways crews will do,

their share — and their
share is a major one.

Tailgating

maintain at least two car
lengths between following
vehicles for every 10 mph of
speed. A separation of ten
car lengths at 50 mph in
today's heavy highway
traffic is net always
possible, practical or even
safe, You drop back to what
is supposedly a ‘'safe’’
distance and someone else
cuts in front to fill the gap.
‘You drop back again and
another car cuts in and so
on. This increases
theypossibility of lane-
changing mishaps as well as
rear-end collisions.
However, the latest system
advocated is ta allow at
teast two seconds of time
between you and the car
ahead —

THE TWO
SECOND RULE

Use a road sign, light post
or any fixed abject near the
roadasa reference point. As
the rear of the car ahead
passes the check point start

counting slowly “one and.

two and.” Each count ap-
roximates a one-second
interval, so the front of your

as in other.

SKEENA DELEGATES fo the recent 1976 Sacial Credit Convention in
Vancouver with Skeena MLA Cyril Shelford, centre, included, from the

left, Qon Herman, Carole Nickel, Barbara Shelford and Gail Tompson.

have finished counting. This
will give you a two-second
separation, which at 55 mph
provides a reasonable
stopping distance of about
160 feet. Under especially
hazardéus conditions in-
volving rain, snow, ice or
uneven pavement, you
should increase your count,
eliowing more separation.

It simply does not pay to
tailgate or to get upset if
someone steals your safety
cushion, Avoid the temp-
tation to compete with, or
retaliate against, the driver

who wants to get ahead of |

you. Let him go — you will
get there almost as fast and
more likely in one piece.

SAFE DRIVING
WEEK

- December 1 to 7 has been
designated Safe Driving
Week by the Canada Safety
Council, Traffic accidents

- continue to be one of our

greatest social problems.
The average daily traffic
figures indicate one death
approximately every 80
minutes, one injury every

‘minute and’ one traffic

accident every 25 seconds.

vehicle should not pass the’: Live and let live — drive
same check point before you, defensively.

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SALE
Saturday,
November 27
10 a.m. = r

Power Tools — Nails — Building Materials —
Doors — Windows — Clothing — Office Equip- .
ment & Furniture — Miscellaneous Items -

1 Mile East of Skeena Bridge on Highway 16 E..

Bavarian Inn
Restaurant i]
Special Prime Rib Night. _

Each Thursday, we offer a variety
of Prime Rib Cuts, Lobster and Rib Steaks

DON'T FORGET - AVAILABLE ONLY ON THURSDAYS

Come join us fora delicious Prime Rib Dinner 7

*
Ld «

‘CANADIAN ADVERTISING ADVISORY BOARD

'

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Student workshop

Students attending British
Columbia post-secondary
institutions have been
promised a full day of two-
way communication bet-
ween their elected student
leaders and the Ministry of

- Education, by Education

Minister Dr. Pat McGeer.

Commenting on national
student day Dr. MeGeer
said; “I am aware of a
number of issues that will no
doubt be discussed at the
various student forums and

’ as most are of legitimate

concern to students they
should have the benefit of a
government reply.”

“As both myself and the
‘deputy minister, Dr. Walter
Hardwick, will be in Toronto
when most university and
college students' societies
will. be holding campus
forums on education issues,
all student presidents from
the province's public
universities, colleges, the
B.C, Institute of
Technology, and the B.C.
Vocational Schoo!, Burnaby
and the executive members
of the B.C, Students’

’ Federation are invited to

Vietorla for a day
communication workshop
with ministry officials and
miyself.”* ’

e workshop will be held
during the second week of

regarding deliver:

‘December. with the specific

date to be announced later.

Among the issues cited by
the minister as potentials
for discussion are: student
employment; the Canada
Student Loan Program; the
provincial government’s
grant and scholarship
program; and the govern-
ment’s long-term policy
of post-
secondary education.

The ministry’s
munication wor! shop
student leaders will be the
first of its kind and will
provide direct access for
each of the post-secondary
student societies not only to-
the minister, but alao to the
deput: minister, the
associate deputy, post-
secondary, the assaciate
deputy, finance and ad-
ministration, and the
student services branch.

“I am. hopeful that all of
the institutions will accept
this invitation,” said the
minister, ‘‘and that the

workshop will be the
precedent for future
workshops during this
ministry.

Student societies . are
expected to cover their
representative's travel and
accommodation expenses
for the Victorla workshop
the minister added.

yuret

2 MONTHS LEFT

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5

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Smithers, B.C.

_