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Pp 18. fflby Fme PRM, W00nesmY, %RuwwY lw- lvu'o Motorists on the hoist as car repair costs rise Oshawa GO drivers win competition FI)RIVINrm;,-%l ISAFELY with RANDY RANDY McLEAN IS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER WHO SPECIAUZES IN TRAFFIC SAFETY.. hk. KtLean has reviewed thousands of lndividual niotor vehicle accident reports and his close working relationships with police agencies, goverriments, safety associations. industry and the public, have given him a true overview of traffic safety issues, problerns and solutions in Canada. Tallgating -- Who's In control? Commuters and other motorists who regul drive on our rovincial highways will --- rýrave noticed tphat the incidence of taildating is increasing. According to the most recent statistics publiéhed by the Ministry of Transportation, from. 1985 to 1987 the total number of motor véhicle accidents increased by about seven per cent. During the same time, the number of drivers involved in accidents and reported to be 'following too cloW increased by almost 19 per cent. Unfortunately, accidents caused by drivers who tailgate (21,415 in.Ontario in 1987) often also invoive one or more innocent victims. While môàt of us have been taught not to tailgate, comparatively few of us know what to do when sorneone is tailgating us. But first, we should consider three things not to do when were being tailgated * Do not jam on your brakes abruptly to sca» the driver behind. VA-dle this might give you some vengeful satisfaction, it is very dangerous. I have reviewed several police accident reports, some resulting in personal injuries, caused by this type of driver action. You already know that the tailgater is a bad driver and have probably said so under your breath. Dont risk your own safety and that of VAN HEMMEN TIRES & SALES 317 Hopkins St. VVhîtby 666-2121 v/v carry the laigest inventory of fiqht iruck tires in the area. Mon Thurs, 8,00 - 5ý30, Fri. 8C - 5.00, Sat. HO M0 .......... . CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF WHITBY NOME ON-STREET PARKING & WINTER SNOW CLEARING To assist the Town of naby in keeping the shmts clear of snOw. the pub " estel ýo ý perale bylM paddncs in a rnanner that %« Inte with municipal snow clearing operationi The Town of Whithy hais a Traffic By4aw. By4aw 1862-85, thât stat»,. in part the following: Secfon 4 (6) (j) - No g:o.n shaR on any hig6way park any vehicle for rnore than three Section 4 No = shaU on any highway stop any vehMe in such a nianner as to i re with the movement of tiaffic or dm clearing of snow from the highways. Section 23-M - A provincial Offenses Officer appointed for the carryinq out of the provisions of this by4aw, upon discavery of any vehicie parked, stopped or standing in contravention of this by4aw may cause it to be moved or taken ta and plaýed or stored in a suitable place and ag costs and charges for removing, care and storage thereot, if any, are a fien upon the vehicle which be enforced in tFo manner provided by The Repair and Siorage Lîens Act 1989 (Big 152). as may be amended from time to âme. Should you require additional information, pleasê caH us. Your continued co-operation is appreciated. MOTORCrrY %-JdL'%J LAJVY LJr%.ý %-7 m L-.y v va si. a* . . . . . . . . . . . . . F your passengers trying to, prove just how bad a driver he or she is. And don't expect the police to, have any sympathy for someone who has deliberately caused an accident. SeSnd, do imoit take on the rôle of Poliee' cMSr. On multi-lane. highways, do not, block the passing lane if a élower lane is available, even if you are driving at the speed limit. When safe to, do so, pull into the slower lane and allow the tailgating véhicle to pass. Third, do not be preemu-ed into, spmding. You will soon find that no matter how fast you go, the tailgater will remain almost exactly the same - short -- distance off your bumpýr. AU that has happened is that you am now driving at a speed at, which you are uncomfortable. You will spend more time glancing into your rear view mirror and are more Ukely to make a driving error yourself and possibly cause an accident while the tailgater speeds by. appear at first glance to be the marginally older fleet and the higher overaH odometer readings. The average odometer reading has risen for the seventh straight year to 87,967 Idlornetres. However; a closer look at repair and maintenance costs shows that coste have risen more on later model year cars than on older véhicles. Part of the reason for the rapidly rising costs is . that cars are becoming increasingly more technologically complex. Car ][naintenance and repair coste have risen sharply over the past year, acc«ding to a survey Of 30 ' 000 motorists conducted by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAM Ile CAA reported that the average annual coet Of maintenance has reached $656, up $72 frSn last yeWs $584. The 12.3 per cent increase in maintenance and repair c compares to a current inflation rate of around two per cent. The cause of higher costs would What ehould you do when mmeone taftates you? Increase the distanS between I our veMcle and the vehicle in fixmt of you. 'cn an emergency, the driver tailgating you may physically not be able to slow djwn fast enough to avoid a collision. By increasing your own followink distance, you will be able to slow down more gradually,.a benefit that is passed on to the tailgater. A second advantage of increasing your own following distance is that the resulting gap is usually too attractive for the tailgater to turn down. He or she will Ukely take the first opportunity to pass you and move into the gap. This may not prevent an accident but at least he or she will then become someone elses problem. Tailgating is, to soine extent, a battle for power or control. The two cars are so close they essentially operate as a single vehicle. If you speed up, you are allewing the tailgater to drive your car for' ou. If you increase your following distance ani continue to drive at a safe, comfortable speed then you are effectively chiving the tailgater's car. When you speed up so, does he, when you slow down so does she. WhÎch driver would you rather have in control? For your sake -- and the tailgater's -- DRIVE SAPELY! Drivera from the Oshawa ecently won the 1992 GO fuosuspie driv ng competition. There are 45 drivers in the GO Bus Oshawa group. The safé driving competition was established in mid-1991, and has led to a drop in the number of GO Bus accidents. There were 112 accidents in- According to the Canadian Automobile Association's Autopinion Annual '9U ublica- tion, air bags are avail. fè in 15 per cent more 1993 models than in 1992 models. According to CANs véhicle durability survey, also appeanng in Autopinion, 60 per cent of the over 30,000 respondents said they want air bags in their next vebicle. This compares to 51.9 per cent last year and 32 per cent thme years ago. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT OPERATKM CENTRE 668-3437 m volving GO buses in 1992, com- Preventable accidents are pared to, 160 in 1991. recorded even when the bus dri- There were 43 "Preventable» ver is not; at fault but fails to do accidents in 1992, compared to, everything reasonable to, prevent 72 in 1991. the accident. More air bags on '93 models LSM SAAB SATURN -t j;ý:n ni irqn&q.qT- F=-- WHnBY 430-2350