Westworld Alberta

Winter 2015

Westworld Alberta

Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/590742

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40 W E S T W O R L D A L B E R T A | W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 IT'S PROBABLY too late for some of us to have a lifetime blemish-free driving record like Ron Wilson of AMA Driver Education. But we can always do bet- ter, and winter is the perfect time to relearn safe driving habits. 1 Drive to conditions Driving to the conditions is all- important in winter. The posted speed limit refers only to ideal circum- stances. So that means if it's snowing while you're driving down Hwy. 2, you probably shouldn't be doing 110 km/h. e more conditions degrade, the slower you should go. Slow down and drive to the conditions. 2 Scan ahead Motorists tend not to scan far enough ahead to see what's coming at them. In the city you want to look 12 to 15 seconds ahead, or just over one city block ahead. On the highway look about 20 to 30 seconds ahead. 3 Adjust your following distance Since icy road conditions are the most common reason for rear-end collisions during the winter, Wilson advises you to adjust how far you should remain behind the car in front. "It's not about car lengths. In dry conditions in a 50-km/h zone, we advise you stay two to three seconds back. On snowy streets, make that four to six. Consider leaving even more room if the roads are icy." 4 Turn on your lights Snow and mud decrease your vehicle's visibility. If you have an older vehicle that doesn't have daytime running lights, make a habit of turning on your lights during the day. Also make sure your lights are clean. "It's a good idea to drive with your lights on, but what's the point if you haven't bothered to clean the lights themselves? On another note, make sure bulky winter clothes aren't hindering your driving performance at the wheel." W BEHIND THE WHEEL IN WINTER EVEN THE MOST EXPERIENCED DRIVER CAN BE TAKEN OFF GUARD AT TIMES – WINTER IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH, BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO DRIVE THROUGH IT By Kevin Brooker DRIVING Myth busting Ignore what you've heard about pumping the brakes in slippery conditions. For vehicles with ABS brakes, use a firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal and don't let up. For non-ABS vehicles, use a threshold braking technique. Brake to the point just before wheels lock up, and if they do start to, just ease up on brake slightly and reapply.

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