Bin LUMBER WORKER COMPARATIVE STOPPING ABILITY OF TIRES AND TIRE CHAINS Braking distances in feet at speed of 20 MPH. For purposes of comparison, the braking distance of regular tires on dry pavement at the same speed is 21 feet. Distances do not allow for reaction time, which averages 34 of a second and adds another 22 feet to the figures shown. Hk REGULAR TIRES ewe SNOW TIRES 5 CAR LENGTHS | REGULAR TIRE CHAINS 4 CARMENGTHS A REINFORCED TIRE CHAINS GLARE ICE AT 20°F 0’ 100° 150! * 200’ 50’ REGULAR TIRES - i LOOSELY PACKED inter Driving SNOW ti Safety Council REINFORCED TIRE CHAINS yr (nearly two decades to at help you. smbers contribute their ; weather—bitter cold, ds—to get the facts Sg INADEQUATE TRACTION TO GO - This generally means the inability to pull away from a standstill on an icy road, to go ave had the help of up slippery hills, or to negotiate deep snow. y Bencies!/and Any of these three situations can cause ofiiith have made trouble. This trouble will vary from aggra- _ i vating delays to major traffic tie-ups and nd electronic accidents. In order to improve traction, good treads Be on regular tires are helpful, but snow treads ages of technical test are better. In tough going,’ reinforced tire a ritten for the chains provide still more traction. And i Pay d it again, be easy on the accelerator—don’t it, and use it. _ spin your wheels. 2 Money—or your a y miles of REDUCED ABILITY TO STOP g . On ice and snow, braking distances are in- creased three to twelve times dry road dis- tances. These long, long stopping distances aré the cause of many winter accidents. Gees “oro RIDES AGAIN / Once again, good tires, snow tires, and chains give greater control (see stopping distance chart). Realistic driving precau- tions, such as reduced speed and increased following distances, will reduce the likeli- hood of an accident. Nc * EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON STARTING AND STOPPING Temperature plays an all important part in braking distance and possible traction on snow and ice. As the temperature rises, 1ce (and to a lesser degree, snow) becomes much more slippery. Frum the chart on next page you see that braking distance doubles with a temperature variation from 0° to 32°F. Prescription— periodically get the “feel” of the road. EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON BRAKING DISTANCE (GLARE ICE) AIR TEMPERATURE pd 2 2 = = S _ ICE AND SNOW MADE “SLICK’’ BY TRAFFIC The polishing action of tires spinning and sliding on snow and ice is known to greatly increase the slipperiness of already hazard- ous road surfaces. This occurs particularly at intersections, on curves and on hills. Pol- ishing lengthens braking distances, slows traffic and presents a particularly severe hazard at intersections. It’s up to you to understand this fact and compensate for it in your driving. SLOW down BEFORE you reach the slippery intersection, and SLOW down BEFORE going into a curve or down a hill. Better traction and stopping perform- ance can be obtained by the use of snow tires and chains. (See following charts.) These devices are a big help on hills and at intersections. REDUCED VISIBILITY Winter weather emphasizes that- you must be able to see danger to avoid it. It is par- ticularly important to have a clean wind- shield at all times, inside and outside. ‘Wipers should be in A-1 condition—both blades and arms. Rubber blades aged by summer sun are likely to streak the wind- shield. Even if new blades are installed they can be inefficient if arm pressure is in- adequate. This shows up in “skips” and poor wiping. Pressure of 1 oz. per inch of blade is needed and recommended. After a storm, be sure to clear your wind- shield and other windows. Go around the car and clear off all the windows, wipe off the headlights, stop and tail lights and turn signals, too. * REMEMBER... tirES Have good treads on front and rear tires. Use snow treads if they help meet your require- ments. 3 CHAINS Always carry a’ pair of reinforced tire chains in good repair to back up your ability to go. WINDSHIELD WIPERS Be sure your wiper blades are in good condition and have adequate arm pressure to sweep snow and sleet off rather than slide over it. HEATER-DEFROSTER Make certain the heater- defroster is functioning to keep windshield clear at all times. Know your heater-defroster and how to use it to prevent interior fogging. BRAKES Have them adjusted, relined if neces- sary, and be certain the brakes are free of grease.