P age 9
T he P ortland O bserver • D ecember 22, 1993
AUTOMOTIVE
W in t e r D riv in g P u ts D riv e rs S k ills To T h e T e s t
U nfortunately, the hustle and
bustleof the holidayscomes ju st when
all drivers really need to slow down
and take their time. W inter driving in
the Northwest demands that thoughts
of holiday get-togethers, presents to
buy, and New Year’s promises need
to take a “backseat” to paying atten­
tion to the road and w eather condi­
tions as we travel the highways and
streets this winter.
Oregon drivers have to contend
with a variety o f winter weather driv­
ing conditions: black ice, wet pave­
ment, snow , sleet, hail and wind.
They also have to keep an eye out for
otherdrivers. “Traditionally the num ­
ber o f “ fender benders” rises at this
time of year,” says Marianne Mac ina,
CPC U , regional m anager for the
W estern Insurance Information Ser­
vice (W HS). Your insurance com pa­
nies through WHS suggest the fo l­
lowing ways to reduce your chances
o f becoming a holiday/winter traffic
accident victim and what you can do
to protect yourself should it happen to
you.
Driving too fast for road condi­
tions brings disaster to many m otor­
ists. Reduce your speed if roads are
slick or icy, or if you are driving on
unfam iliar roads. Rem em ber not to
accelerate or brake in a hurry. Use
affect your reaction time and judg­
m e n t If you’ve been drinking, take a
cab or public transportation home, or
have a designated driver who hasn’t
been drinking, drive for you.
Should you become involved in a
w inter accident, WHS recommends
you take these following steps:
S top your vehicle and get help for
the injured. Have someone call the
police to tell them about the number
o f injured people and the types o f
injuries. The police will notify medi­
cal units in the area.
G et immediate help and care to
the injured without aggravating or
com plicating their injuries (don’t
m ove them if possible). Covering an
injured person with a blanket and
making them comfortable may be as
much as you can do until professional
m edial help arrives.
Try to protect the accident scene.
Take reasonable steps to protect your
vehicle from further dam age by set­
ting up flares, getting your vehicle off
the road and calling a tow truck if
necessary.
Make notes. D on’t try to rely on
your memory. Keep a pad and pencil
in your glove compartment. W rite
down the full names and addresses o f
all driver and passengers involved in
the accident as well and any witness.
caution if your vehicle begins to skid,
it is usually best to turn into the skid
to regain control.
Turn lights on for safety. M ost of
us go to and return from work in the
dark, and cloudy skies make for poor
lighting during the rest o f the day.
Turning on your lights can assist you
to see better and also allows other
motorists to see you in advance.
D on’t tailgate. It takes your ve­
hicle much longer to stop in adverse
conditions (wet pavement, ice, ets.)
then norm al, so give the car in front o f
you a little extra room.
Icy patches on many roadways
can be avoided or at least crossed with
caution if motorists keep an eye out
for them. Look out for shaded areas,
bridges or overpasses, or roadways
near water.
Control your speed when descend­
ing hills. Shift down if possible and
gently pump the brakes to keep your
vehicle from picking up dangerous
speed on hills.
Remember to buckle up and make
sure your vehicle’s safety restraints
(airbags) are operational. Drive de­
fensively, it is better to use caution
and arrive late than never to arrive at
all.
D on’t Drink and Drive period!
Even a single alcoholic beverage can
Note the license num bers, make and
model o f each car involved in the
accident as well as the license number
and insurance identification number
of each driver. Record the names and
badge numbers o f police or other
emergency personnel.
If law enforcement representa­
tives do arrive, provide them w ith any
information they require. Ask where
you can obtain a copy o f the police
report of the accident — it can be
helpful in supporting your insurance
claim.
W HS suggests you take the fol­
lowing steps w hen filing a claim :
• Phone your insurance agent or
local company representative as soon
as possible following the accident.
• Supply the information your
insurance company needs.
• Keep records of your expenses.
• Keep copies o f all your paper
work and records.
In addition to learning these driv­
ing and accident tips, have your car
properly prepared for winter weather
and road conditions. W H S offers this
list of safety checks:
T ires: W hen m ounting snow
tires, check to assure proper tire tread
and air pressure; the more surface
tread on the road, the better the traction.
Brakes: Check brakes for pulling
Survey Reveals Pedestrians “In The Dark” About Safety
The dark o f winter reaches its
peak on Decem ber 21, the shortest day
o f the year. With it comes winter
coats, holiday shopping, and a higher
rate of pedestrian accidents and deaths.
According to a recent survey spon­
sored by the AAA Foundation for
Traffle Safety, pedestrians do not know
how to m ake themselves more visible
to motorists and give themselves an
edge in a dangerous nighttime situa­
tion. Nearly 80 percent thought that
wearing w hite at night provided ad­
equate visibility to drivers. In fact,
wearing retroreflective materials or
walking with a flashlight aie the only
ways pedestrians can be sure that driv­
ers will see them soon enough to react
and avoid hitting them.
“W e tend to wear dark coats in
winter, so w e’re already less conspicu­
ous to divers,” explains Scott Thomp­
son, Safety manager of AAA Oregon.
“ With tw ilight coming as early as
4:30 in the afternoon, children return­
ing home from after-school activities
and evening commuters face a very
dangerous situation as pedestrians,
yet they may not realize they are not
always visible to drivers.”
The survey, conducted by re­
searchers at the University of Tennes­
see, quizzed 4,782 motorists around
the country to see how well informed
drivers and pedestrians are about pe­
destrian safety issues. The study re­
vealed significant misunderstandings
about some very basic pedestrian safety
facts and laws.
“One in six traffic fatalities is a
pedestrian, which makes pedestrian
safety a serious issue,” emphasizes
Thompson. “Survey respondents sig­
nificantly underestimated this num ­
ber, and we suspect that both drivers
and pedestrians are relying on the
other guy to know who has the right-
of-way.
Unfortunately, pedestrians lose
in any collision, regardless o f who has
the right-of-way.”
Signs and crosswalk markings in
D
E
A
L
E
R
S
H
W ALK/DON’T W ALK signals
school zones are misinterpreted, pos­
were
also misinterpreted by those sur­
ing a particular hazard tochild pedes­
veyed.
Nearly half assumed they had
trians. Tw o-thirds of the respondents
to
return
to the curb if the D O N ’ T
incorrectly thought they should re­
W
ALK
signal
begins flashing while
sume speed as soon as they see an
they
are
crossing
the street, when, if
“END SCHOOL ZONE” sign, rather
than when they pass the sign. More fact, they should continue to cross.
than seventy percent did not recog­ The same num ber thought that a
nize the difference between an ad­ W ALK sign completely protected the ir
vance warning o f a school zone cross­ crossing, although in most cases right­
w alk and the sign designating the turning and left-turning vehicles are
still a danger.
crosswalk.
S ingle copies o f the report, Driver
“These results are scary. They
make it clear that children need to be and Pedestrian Com prehension of
very cautious when crossing the street, Pedestrian Law and Traffic Control
even where they think they are safe,” Devices, are available free by writing
to: AAA Oregon Safety Department,
states Thompson.
O ver a third o f the respondents to 600 S . W . M arket S treet, Portland, OR
the survey did not know that walking 97201-5295, or calling (503) 222-
on the left side o f the road, facing 6754.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic
traffic, was the safest path when side­
Safety is a not-for-profit, publicly-
walks are not available.
Nearly half of the respondents supported charitable research and edu­
thought jogging on a roadway was cational organization dedicated to sav­
legal. In fact, it is illegal if adequate ing lives and reducing injuries by
preventing traffic accidents.
sidewalks are provided.
I P
S
CECIL A. GRUNDY
c
Sales & Leasing Representative
Res.: (503) 280-1065
MITSUBISHI
300 Washington Street
P.O. Box 1679, Vancouver, WA 98668
(206) 256-5000
Portland 252-4868
1-800-541-3088
Lincoln
Mercury
Jeep-Eagle
Volkswagen
Mitsubishi
Honda
Subaru
Acura
J ’S
A u to w o rk s
s
T
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Wants to help you get ready for
WINTER with a
$25 H and W ax
$ 3 0 I n te r io r D e ta il
$35 B u ff-n -w a x
O utside W ash $ 6 , or I n & O utside W ash $8
in either direction; even the slightest
pull or misalignment can cause a
dangerous spin on icy roads.
C ooling/H eating: Check of your
hoses, belts and radiator system for
leaks, cracks or pressure/heat bulges.
E lectrical system s: many road­
side emergency calls are complicated
by a dead battery. Be sure your battery
is fully charged and your system is not
draining the battery. Again, check
your belts to make sure your alterna­
tor system is charging your battery
when the vehicle is running.
Fluids: Changing your oil filter
at this time would be recommended.
Look into using a multi-grade oil
such as 10W-40 for easier starting
and better fuel econom y in cold
weather.
L ights and W ipers: Since your
lights and wipers will be on most of
the time this winter in Oregon, be
sure both systems are operating prop­
erly. Check your headlight alignment
and that all your lights are working
and visible. Your wipers should make
clean strokes across the windshield,
not streaking or skipping. Replace
them if they appear worn or are not
wiping properly.
C hains and Sand: carry prop­
erly fitted chains and use them when
conditions demand or are advised.
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MONDAY - SATURDAY, 9:00AM TILL 6:00PM
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Loading your trunk or truck bed with
sandbags or other weighty items will
give you better rear wheel traction as
well as control.
When inclement weather strikes,
the best policy is stay home or where
you are safe unless you have no other
choice. If you do have to venture
forth, obey all safe traffic rules and
use common sense.
WHS provides consumers with
free broc hures on how to file an insur­
ance claim , auto insurance basics and
safe driving tips. For these and other
in su ran ce-related consum er b ro ­
chures, contact the WHS regional
office at 11855 SW Ridgecrest Drive,
#107, Beaverton, OR 97005; tele­
phone: 503-643-6355. WHS can also
arrange for a free insurance related
presentation (on topics such as auto
theft protection, auto insurance ba­
sics, hom eow ners’ insurance, home
burglary prevention and earthquake
preparedness, etc.) for any groups
meeting orclass through its statewide
speakers’ Bureau.
WHS is a non-profit, non-lobby­
ing community service organization
serving consum ers in 10 western
states. WHS is funded by property/
casualty insurance companies and is
affiliated nationally with the Insur­
ance Information Institute (I.I.I.).
•
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Charitable Organizations
Private Party Sales
Bank Reposessions
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PUBUC AUTO AUCTION
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