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Page 10 The Clarington/Courticc Independent, Bowmanvillc, Saturday. January 2, 1909 Arrive Safely Even in Winter/ Weather by Jennifer Stone Staff Writer It was a long time coming, coming, but winter's blustery driving conditions have finally reared their ugly heads. Avoiding a collision during wintcry conditions may be as simple as applying applying a little bit of common sense, says P.C. Shawn Arnott of the Durham Regional Police Traffic Unit. "Be cautious and drive according to the conditions conditions of the road. Don't exceed those driving conditions," conditions," advises P.C. Arnott. . He adds it's most important to reduce speeds and maintain safe distances distances between vehicles during poor weather conditions. conditions. What constitutes a safe distance is usually determined by the speed at which the vehicle is travelling. travelling. "If a vehicle is going fast, the distance should be greater," he says. "On the 401, you should have a bigger distance than if you're going down a 50 kilomclre-an-hour road." "Be cautious and drive according to the conditions of the road. Don't exceed those driving conditions" P.C. Arnott. P.C. Arnott defines a safc'distancc as "the distance distance that you can stop in safely." Keeping a vehicle in good running order is another key to safe winter The Hotel, Motel, Gamble The Traveller by Rob Evans One of the trickiest bits about travelling is making sure that you get a good hotel. Whether you book your trip ahead of time or like to find a hotel on the road, it is important that you find one that allows you to get a good rest so you can enjoy your trip to its fullest. Hotel and motel standards standards are different as you travel from place to place. In Europe, hotel rooms tend to be much smaller than North American hotel rooms. They might have a single twin bed or no toilet in the room. Many of the Italian hotel rooms I have stayed in tried to save space by placing the toilet in the shower stall. In Paris, I- once stayed in a hotel that put bunkbeds into a room about the size of a walk-in closet. Cosy, but not very romantic for the City of Lights. On the other hand, sometimes because the rooms were put into an old building, the builder had to fit walls wherever they could. So you could end up with a four room suite, complete with full bath including a bidet. Such was my delight in a modest hotel just south of Edinburgh. Another interesting feature in some European hotels is their hall lights. Imagine my surprise as I stepped off the elevator in the modern hotel in Hamburg and into a dark hallway. The hotel had light switches in the halls that turned the lights on for about thirty seconds after which they automatically turned themselves off again. Switches at intervals along the hall kept you in the light until you reached your room. My North American instincts thought this a frightening notion. The Germans see it as an efficient way to save electricity. To their credit, European hotels arc generally clean, well maintained and the staff friendly and accommodating. accommodating. North American hotels vary greatly. Recently, large chains have been buying out independent owners and putting their corporate logo over the front door. That means that even though the hotel is a franchise, it doesn't doesn't mean that it will resemble any other franchise you've even seen. Also, different regions have different ways of grading hotels. On a trip to Saskatchewan, I discovered a rating called rustic. What a polite way of saying, "Don't stay here." Rustic is line when it is your uncle's cottage, but for a hotel, it just isn't a good thing. Small, isolated communities can be the most risky for travellers because there aren't a lot of accommodations available. I've seen both sides of the coin on that one. At one hotel I was greeted by empty beer bottles on the counter, a musty old shag carpet and a wet towel on the floor in the shower. But I was pleasantly surprised by a small motel in upstate New York that had hand knitted throw blankets and a cornucopia of arts and crafts in an albeit old but very clean room. Here's a few things to consider when choosing a room for the night. One. Ask friends and acquaintances that have travelled travelled to the same area that you arc planning to visit about where they stayed, Two. If it's in your budget, go for an upscale hotel. They stand behind their reputation and will do their best to make your stay an enjoyable one. Three. If you don't mind sleeping in someone else's bedroom, try a bed and breakfast. The owners of B and 13's tend to take a lot of pride in their places and this is often reflected in the services they provide. (Still, its buyer beware). Four. If you can gel a brochure that has pictures not only of the outside of the hotel, but also of the inside of one of the rooms, this can be a great help. Five. When on the road and looking for a place to stay, take note of the lobby or front desk area. If it is a mess, there is a good chance the rooms aren't much better. better. If you're not too tired keep looking for another place. Happy travels. driving, says P.C. Arnott. Ensuring brakes are in good condition is important, important, he says. So is keeping all fluids, including fuel, topped up all the time. The officer recommends recommends carrying a number of items in a vehicle. A scraper and snow brush arc important, he says. "Warm your vehicle before you leave, and make sure it's clear and defrosted. Get all the snow brushed off," and be especially especially careful to ensure all lights, front and rear, arc clear of the fluffy white stuff, he advises. As well, warm clothing and a blanket could come in handy should your find yourself in trouble. Sand in the box of a truck or trunk of a car can serve a number of purposes, purposes, says Arnott. Not only does it add weight to help stabilize the back end of the vehicle, but it can also be used should the vehicle get stuck in the snow. When driving in less- than-pcrfcct conditions, P.C. Arnott advises to try to avoid hitting the brakes. "That increases your chances of steering out" of a difficult situation, he explains. While driving in winter can pose a challenge, P.C. Arnott says there are ways to help reduce the risks. "Reduce your speed and keep a safe distance," he says. Five Little Snowmen Decked out in their top hats, these "snow persons" from the Bowmanvillc Nursery School entertained members members of the Bowmanvillc Lions Club at a Christmas program earlier in December. After performing skits and songs, the nursery school group enjoyed a visit from Santa. SIU Investigates Shooting 44-Year-Old Sunderland Man Killed The province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating the shooting shooting death of a 44-year-old Sunderland area man and the serious injury of his 17-ycar-old son. Shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday, two Durham Regional Police officers accompanied two officers from the York Regional Police Service to a home in the Sunderland area; The York Regional Officers went to the home as part of an on-going investigation. On arrival at the home, a struggle ensued, resulting resulting in the discharge of firearms. The 44-year-old father was fatally injured and his 17-year-old son received a single gunshot wound to the stomach. He was admitted to hospital and was listed in serious but stable condition. A York Regional Police officer officer sustained a minor gun shot wound to the face. He was treated and released from hospital, Seven SIU officers were dispatched to the scene. The SIU investigates investigates all incidents involving involving police which result in serious injury or death. On the basis of preliminary preliminary information gathered by SIU investigators, three officers, two from York and one from Durham, have been designated as subject officers. One Durham Regional Police officer has been designated designated as a witness officer. At the request of the Durham Chief of Police, the OPP is conducting an investigation into the shooting of the York Regional Officer. The investigation is continuing and the SIU is appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to call the unit at 1-800-787- 8529. GM Card Points Accepted GM Employee & Eligible Relatives Discount in Effect PLENTY OF INVENTORY TO CHOOSE FROM!!