11~~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ -.- ý - l_ _ _ ' . . , 1 - . ý 11ý '1ý_ l1,1,l.1- i 1 o f WHITBY FREE PRESS, THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1973, PAGE 5 MOTORING. with Mike Burgess Bits and pieces from the Ontario Safety League come our way quite regularly and unfortunately I don't always have room -to print them, but as the vacation season is upon us I think that a few relevant points would be quite appropriate at this time. A recent nation-wide survey in the U.S. reported that 120,000 deer and 1,200 other big-game animals are killed annually in collisions with motor vehicles. The damage cost to the vehicles involved is estimated at more than $30 million annually. The survey showed that most of the collisions occur in the summer months when more cars are travelling unfamiliar roads. Obstruction of a driver's view by the car's front roof support may be a significant factor in pedestrian accidents. In a study of accidents at 32 one-way inter- sections in New York City over a five-year period it was found that left-turn accidents were twice as frequent as right-turn accidents. The visual obstruction caused by roof supports is suspected as a significant cause of this difference. Although additional research is required to determine the extent of the problem, the good driver should take this into consideration. If you are trailering a boat to your favourite vacation area, be sure to check the trailer thoroughly before starting out. Go over the frame with a wrench and tighten al bolts and fastenings, check and grease wheel bearings, inflate the tires to proper pressure-60 pounds for the average boat trailer, be sure the hitch and safety chains are in safe operational condition and check the brake and signal lights. Once out on the highway with your additional weight and length of load, use extra caution in overtaking and passing other traffic, or changing lanes on multiple lane highways. Remember that it takes longer to stop with that extra load, so keep your speed down and leave plenty of space between you and the car ahead. Before launching the boat, be sure that the hull and engine are in good condition and check over the required safety equipment. Canadian pleasure boat regulations require two paddles or two oars and a bailing bucket or bilge pump, and a Government approved life jacket for each passenger. This is minimal equipment for the average family outboard. The latest fad fashion, platform shoes, might be considered high style by many, but they are a potential driving hazard. In fact, one safety officiai in Philadeiphia bas even urged the recali of women's platform shoes, saying that "if car manufacturers must recall their auto- mobiles for safety defects, it would seem logical for fashion designers to be similarly responsible." It is difficult to shift the foot from the accelerator to the brake in an emergency while wearing a 4 or 5 inch platform shoe. The sense of touchi is impaired with the use of thick platform soles and could cause the driver to over accelerate. High heels, whether regular or platform, can create yet another hazard by becoming wedged in the base of the accelerator. A heavy foot might be in high fashion, but not on the accelerator. Motorcyclists are urged not to hesitate turning on their lights in the daytime. Motorcycle accidents are reduced sensibly each time this practice is applied on a large scale. Motorists should learn to recognize a safe and prudent motorcyclist in the rider whose lights are on in the daytime. Treat him with respect. Finally, the well-known Psychic Researcher Alan Sprag- gett of Toronto, reported recently that he had met Uri Geller in New York, a man with the phenomenal ability to bend metal through thought-waves. The Ontario Safety League notes that many drivers display the same ability - without thinking. 'til next week, Happy Motoring! There are rules of the road afloat, many of them are similar to those used on our public thoroughfares. T- he Ontario Safety League states, it is important ofr states, it is important for the operator of a boat to know and observe these mar- ine traffic regulations as it, is for his counterpart ashore to obey the Highway Traf- fic Act. When meeting another b- oat, keep to the right. This means you are passing port to port and at night the red port light would be show- ing to each operator indic- ating a hazard and the pos- ition of the approaching boat. When overtaking and pas- sing another boat, you may do so on the left or right (starboard of port), but pro- ceed with caution as the boat you are overtaking has the right of way. The boat approaching on your right or starboard bow has the right of way and you must slow down or turn to allow her to proceed on her course. At night the -red port light would be show- ing indicating the need for caution while the boat ap- proaching on your starboard bow would see a green light indicating his course was cI- ear. Power boats must give way to hand propelled craft such as rowboats and canoes or sailboats while under sail. It is interesting to note that since the advent of fast multi- huil. sailing craft, a new cl- ause has been added to this regulation: Power boats have the right of way when being overtaken by a boat under sail. Reckless operation of po- wer boats and water skis is spelled out in the Criminal Code of Canada and the Co- urts of our land are given ample authority to deal with offenders. Reoration Tips The Criminal Code states that anyone operating a boat water skis, surfboard or any towed object in a manner that is dangerous to navig- ation, life or limb, is guilty of an indictable offense and is liable to fines up to $500., or imprisonment on convict- ion. Under certain circum- stances, a court order may be issued depriving the of- fender of the privilege to operate a boat for a period of time considered approp- RBDMNTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CHAIN LINK MNNO FREE ESTIATES PEDERSEN'S FENCING CALL 723-5377 When you complain about improper advertising, we do something about it. Fast. For example: Tbecasoof neMagnetcBroeet From the files of the Advertising Standards Council in an advertisement. a manufacturer claimed that his "magnetic bracelet" possessed therapeutic value for sufferers froin various illnesses. This is the advertising rule that was broken: *No advertisement shall he prepared. or he knowingly accepted. which offers talse hope in the form of a cure or relief for the mentally or physically handicapped. cither on a temporary or permanent hasis." Here's what we did about it, immediately. As soon as the Advertising Standards Council received a consumer coin- plaint about the advertisement we contacted the manutfacturer and asked him for proof of his claims. We received no direct reply, but he very quickly dropped all reference in his advertising to therapeutic values. The bracelet is now sold as an ornament. Keep this complaint notice. Then if you see advertising that's dishonest or unfair, send it to us. r ----------------------- i Advertising Standards Council COMPLAINT NOTICE Product or Service: Date advertisement appeared: Where it appeared: E T.V. [3 Newspaper E Magazine E lRadio [ Outdoor E Transit Name of publication or station: Please investigate this advertisement which in my opinion breaks the Canadian Advertising i Standards Code because: Name Address City Zone Province Advertising Standards Council, 159 Bay Street, Toronto 116, Ontario. L-- ----------------------------------------J The Advertising Standards Council is a division of the Canadian Advertising Advisory Board. We work for better advertising, riate by the presiding judge or magistrate, Some of the offenses include: .Operating a boat when ab- ility is impaired by alcohol or drugs. .Water skiing from one hour after sunset to sunrise. Failure to have a second person in the boat while towing a skier.