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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER.5, 1984, PAGE 11 Auto ud A IF"R-'An accident? Don't let confusion reign YOUR CAR (NC) - In the late '70s, the size of the average car began to shrink in response to rising gasoline prices and the threat of energy shortages. Trailer towing enthusiats who had used the fuli-size car as the prime mover in their rigs began to harbor fears that automo-- biles of the necessary size and engine power to haul a large travel traler would beconie extinct. In sanie measure their fears were justified. Sanie makers, once big in the tow vehicle field, now build few cars of sufficient power to haul travel trailers in the medium to heavy range, comprising trailers with a loaded weight of from about 900 to 2722 kg (2,000 to 6,000 lb), formerly a very popular segment of the AUTO FACTO travel trailer market. Onie maker, General Mo- tors, however- bas main- tained its commitment ta the trailer owner. GM, ai- though it pioneered in the downsizing proceas for standard size automobiles and is- currently building cars tbat are farlighter and more fuel efficient than (base of a decade ago, still offers a wbole range of cars suitable for hauling even heavyweight trailers. Even during the big- engine, big-carera of trailer towing proper car prepara- tion was necessary before booking up. With the smaller engines and lighter cars of today, the need is vital. Following are some tow- ing tips: Neyer add more than 460 kg or 1,000 lb to the (rai- lers's empty weight. Neyer overload the tow vehicle; for trailers of 900 kg loaded weight and over, the car should have a load- distributing platforni in- stalled and the trailer- sbould be equipped witb an equalizing bitcb; the trailer size will dictate the size af engine needed, the drive axde ratio, the need for a heavy duty suspension, the type of trailer lighting har- John Waîby (NC) - Motor vehicle acci- dents have an unpleasant way of happening ail of a sudden. In the ensuing con- fusion, we can sometimnes forget what we should do to satisfy the law, our insu- rance agents and, frankly, to protect our own interests. So here, before-the adre- nalin starts to flow, are a few reminders. Your responsibiiities While laws relating to a driver's responsibilities at an accident scene vary slightly from province to province, on one point there seems to be general agree- ment: that the driver should stick around and render whatever assist- ance is possible to others at the scene. Also, that you should provide your name, address, and those of the owner of the vehicle you were driving, as well as the licence plate number, to the investigating officer, and others directly involved in the collision. In the agony of the mo- ment, it's easy to forget your car was in gear and probably in motion when the collision occurred; chances are, it still is. So, turn off the ignition to pre- vent your car from lurching once again into motion. Warn other vehicles using the road of your pres- ence by setting out flares and turning on your emer- gency flashers. Since gaso- nesa required, and the need for any special equipment, like a heavy duty radiatoi and a transmission oul coaler, or heavy duty wheels; trailer brakes arc neededon all trailers weigh. ing more than 450 kg grosE -weight. line and other flammable liquids are often spilled in a collision, don't smoke or set tiares too near the scene. Naturally, al occupants of vehicles that are on rire, no matter how small or seemingly innocent the flames, should get out immediately. Summon emergency treatment for anyone who is injured. In many cases, the best you can do is make them comfortable until the ambulance arrives. Per- form roadside first aid only if you have been trained to do so. Otherwise, render whatever assistance you can to those who are trained. Each province has ith own criteria for whether or not an accident must be re- pot-ted to the police. Neyer- theless, it's a safe bet that the police should benotified if anybody's injured or if Pj ~TISSPECIAL THSWEEK ON USED CARS 12½/ ivisl mu $239IMONTH 1I 99MONTH ~1 99IMONTH I i. i. S% FINANCING W11499 DOWN PYMT. MALIBU W11499 DOWN PYMT. STK. NO. U681l W11399 DOWN. PYMT. STK. NO. Ul 784 1982 COROLLA SR5>S 2763 $988 DOWN (S-,OCK NO. U1 781) 2 7MTrHLY. 1980 HONDA ACCOR D$IO 03 1513 DOWN (STOCK NO. U1 750) $194.MTHLY. 1980OTERCEL SRS 0$ $492 DOWN (STOCK NO. U1752)> 18 .1MTHLY. 1981 TERCEL $107,38 8734 DOWN (STOCK NO. U1776) *MTH LV. 1979 CELICA . $2,17 45 3562 DOWN (STOCKNU778> MLY. 1981 COROLLA 1745 $348 DOWN (STOCK NO. U1775) *MTrHLY. 1 yr. power train warranties available FREE - tank of gas with purchase 15 UNDAS ST. W9WHITBY 668'u4792 the damage is considera- hIe. With the high cost of re- placement parts these days, it doesn't take much for the damage to beconsid- erable. When in doubt, cal the police. Get the particulars ofany independent witnesses, and their version of what hàppened. Exchange ownership, driver's licence and insu- rance particulars with other drivers, and obtain the names and addresses of any injured people, the na- ture of their injuries, and where they were taken for emfergency treatment. Motor vehicle collisions can often end up in court, traffic -civil orboth -usu- ally months, if flot years, later. The only way you're going to remember what happened is if ý'ou've made a simple diagram of what happened and have jotted down notes describing PRO DODGE. e= Your Local Chrysler-Dodge SSales and Service Dealer * Parts & Service - Thursdays I 9 p.m. WHITBY 209 Dundas St. W. 666-3000 MR TOTAL AUTO MR UT-ÉERVICE LTD. EE SIT BEAUTIFUL c p ELECTIC TUN E-UP, NLYS IpET cp *~anin nsg, fagn n I engins t sat met I *A Iprte ama d matîtt»ck cars, Importa nd Ightui "o *Netrnchagitn n '8.00 extra. eIncludes plugs 282 MONARCH AVE. UNIT 16 AJAX 4554 CYL. ,58.5 CYL. 38.5 V- & CYL. 686*3200 what you and the others in- volved did. Write It down Part of your written ob- servations should include the type of road the acci- dent occurred on, what sort of shape it was in, weather conditions and if they con- tributed to the accident, whether it was nightorday, foggy or clear, and how heavy the traffic in the area was. In fact, anything that Complete Collision 324 Ash Street Repairs & Painting WHITBY, ONTARIO . fiMERCURY 'Net Your A verage Blody Shop" Ail Work Guaranteod RIONÂLD MOQUIN Frame Repairs Free Estimates ATTERSLEY TIRE SERVICE. PASSENGER & LIGHT TRUCKS on the outcome of the trial. 0f course, the best advice is to atempt to avoid acci- dents altogether, by prac- ticing defensive driving skills. But, sometimes even your best efforts aren't enough to keep you out of trouble. And, in such cases, it helps to know what to do. John Walby trains auto- mobile technicians for Esso Trouler towing needs preparô'tion BRAKES TUNE-UP SMOCKS8 EXHAUST, 103 Dundas E.16KIgS.E Whitby Oshawa 668.3356 571-3400 FREE TRANSMISSI-ON O N K. CARS 1 L-À, ý=- Z =ý 7-w- -,r- - - 1 1 m 162 King St. E. Oshawa 571-3400