PAGE. A2, WHITBY FREE PRESS, DTJRHAM MOVES, AUGUST 31, 1988 Sfty tips fom Randy to-avýoid accident risk DR1VING'SAFELY WITII RANDY ' Welcome to Driuing &zafely With Randy. This is t/w firat in a series eof articles for-good drivers, good cyclists and good pedestrians w/w want to reduce their risk of being inuolued in an accident. These articles will not teach you how to drive -- no oneý can learn ta drive by reading about it. But we can learn *a great deal about how ta, present accidents. 'Labor Day weekenid, the last, long, glorlous' weekend of surnmer, is almost here. The roads are dry, visibility -is good and. there are still long heurs cf daylight te enjey. Compared te the hazards cf winter driving, summer'ideal conditions make driving fun. Just you. your car and the highway. You might easily be convinced -that there are ne particular summer driving dangers and that "Safe Driving' is a seasonal (winter) concern only. Not true! Absolutely not true! At the endof last year's Labor' Day. weëekend, mhore fatai accidents (14) had o ccurred on Ontariods highwa'Ys thanI during any other holiday weekend, period throughout the a, with one exception. That' exception was "the other long -weekend of summ'n"celebrating, Simcoe Day,- at the beginning of August. The number of accidents. on Canada Day. varies from year te year, since July. 1 does, not always falîs on a Priday or Monday.. Why so many serious acci- dents when-weather and road conditions are ideal? Because long, summer weekends are fun times te be outside! Fun times te drive our car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle or walk. Consequently, there are more motoists and pedestrians on our streets and highways. Aise, the dangers - of- summer driving are not as obvious as the 'hazards of blowing snow, icy roa ds etc. of winter driving. 1We usually, think of -danger and fun as' contradictory terms; summer driving is fun, thereforé it can't be dangerous-. With this belief, we may fail to recognize potential. traffic hazards because we are neither looking for or expectinîg to flnd them. What are somne common summer driving dangers? Perhaps the most common danger is fatigue. As average niotonists, our- longest, single direction trip each. dayý'.is about 20 - 50 km. Yet, in the suminer we may attempt te complete trips cf 200 - 500 km. or more in a single day --ten times the distance we are accustomed te travelling. There is no -doubt these lo nger trips cause fatigue. Tests conducted on professional drivers, who regularly drive long distances, show marked decreases 'in motor skills after only two hours of driving. On weekends, the drive home from the cottage can be even more dangerous than the drive there. In our attempt to squeeze that last enjoyable moment out of the weekend, we frequently take a final tiring1 swim;, treat ourselves te an ample meal, possibly with alcohol; or just stay too long and then drive home late at night after a long day. -It's not just the actual drive homne that causes fatigue, ý but al .the, activities of the previous 12 - 48 hours combined. ,Moreover, the drive home -may be» split between long, lonely stretches of poorly lit country roads and. congested urban highways, both, of whiich place' spécial. demands on 'our motoring skills. .Another not so obvious summer driving danger is lack of regLlar vehicle maintenance. Every time we get into our car we expect it to perform.. In fact, we are gambling our own safety and the safety of our passengers and other road users on how well our vehicle will perform. Yet, after' our work, household duties and social activities are complete we may not< take -time to-check tire pressures, fluid levels, fan. belts, headlights, turn signlais, etc.' before a long drive. That's like placing a bet without even glancing at your cards. An overheated engine on aý busy freeway or worn tires on a wet surface can lead to an accident. What can you to do reduoe your risk? While none of us plan, to become involved in an accident, very few of us actively .plan, not to becomre involved in an acident. Whether-we'reout frora day trip or away -for the ýentire weekend, most of us know about what time We'll be returninighome. But too t1hat réquire' us -toý drive when we're just à littie too tired'or had just a'w littie' too much to drink, posiblyina vehicle, that is just a little overdue ,ýfor ».its regular checkup. This weekend, plan not te be inivolved in an accident:, : Do not place, unreasonable demandson yourself. Plan some time to rest before you start your trip. If you'feel tired during the drive, pull over and stop until you, are rested. - If you are, the designated driver for the triprefrain from alcohol.- A drink or two after a long day of 'activity can easily result in a dangerous combination of alcohol and fatigue. a Inspect'your vhcebefore starting a long trip. * An fiiially, always remember that eéven, if you are *well rested, sober and your vehicle is in -top operating form, the driver and/or vehicle, beside you mnay not be. Drive accordingly - drive safely! When engine overheats'.... T h e Foôx..WagAlaon, Its Iocaded volks!1 .0 Proven 1.8 litre fuel injected engine. " Rack and pinion steering. " Steel belted radial-ply tires. *Tinted glass. " Halogen headlights. " Rear window wiper/washer. *lmmediate delivery $1O,59 80 * Air conditioning available for your comfort. $950.00 *.24 mont, unlimited mileage warranty. Ask for detaifs. *.6 year. unlimited mileage corrosion perforation warranty. Ask for details. * Plus more than 30 other standard features. (plus PST, 48 month term first and last month payment, OAC). or LEASE from $1 59.63/month *Month closed end lease wth S2000 down O.A.C. or equlvalent trade. *8ased on manufacture's suggested retail price. Options, freght and pre-delivery inspection extra. Dealermaysell for less. Owasco Vol kswagen' l2 Durmdas St. E. w, nétE OshawalWhltby Whltby, Ajax, Pickering ToIl Fre I ow"I 1 668-9383 683-3235 1 -800-263-2676 EXPERIENGE THE OWA SGO FEELING-IT 'S BEEN PRO VEN SINGE 1972.- M AN îî I CARE " & O.ML. SERICE AWARD WINNER 35 minutes from Tor( ronto The "hot" light or temperature gauge on your dlashboard is flashing and* there is steam coming eut from under your hood. Suddenly your car is over- heated. What do you do now? Well, there are several wise steps you can fellow te . avoid injury and limit.- the ameunt of precieus vacation time spent at the side of the read. .Slow traffic in het weather, long steep hilîs, a loose or, broken accesssory bel t, a broken water PUMA, a 'stuck or broken. thermostat, a leaking hose or a clogged or leaking radiator can cause overheating. Once you've recognized the signs cf an overheated engine - warning lights and./or steam 1 do net drive any further. Signal, pull over te the, side of the rod, and stop in s safe place. Turn- off, the engine. Raise thie hood te let,,.the heat escape. Now wait for the engine te cool dewn. this may take an heur or se., While ygý,ure waiting, check the farn belt and*look for loose or broken hoses. When the engine has coeled, carefully remove the reservoir and radiater caps. Wrap a cloth around each one 'flrst,' and stand back. Steam .or' boiling water may splash'eut. When it settles,,dewn,.yeu can add,'more coolant te the reservoir and the radiater.ý Yo u*can. add tap water, or even steamn water if you strain it threugh a cloth flrst. Then put the caps back on tightly. 00See. One of theè Largest Rangie of On Dilsplay, E.G. D rilis er Tools From $59 .95 to $254.95 Extensive Range of Sookets, Ex. stock. from 1/8"ï to 4" *TRA DE EN OURES WEL COME* TOOL S'HA"CK < 839-2364 1543 Bayly Street, Pickering cî 0PICKMNOMon. -Fr1. ~ TOWN CTRS . 401 86Pm CL 'Saturday 95 Pm T$I~SO~NDAS TMýAsS=WESUNC*. 1415 Dunda t E. Whi Ontario 1/ 2 to 10,.H P C ompressors Ex.,stock. 66, -da