SLIPPING AND SLIDING

WRECK-LESS DRIVING©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

SLIPPING AND SLIDING
TIFFIN, OH: The air temperature was exactly 32 degrees F. Irene approached a small bridge on State 18 near Heidelberg College. Ahead, June, age 72, in another auto had spun out of control, had hit the side rails and gone through them, partly. Another foot or so and the vehicle would have dropped into the deep, cold water. Fortunately the elderly June was not injured, but the car was a real wreck. This raises the question, "why was the bridge so slippery?"

At 32 degrees (zero C.) the somewhat warm tires of previous vehicles had partially melted the icy surface. This thin and slick layer of water was just enough to send June's auto spinning. On the roadway before the bridge the warm tires had melted the ice also, but down to the pavement. The wind blowing under the bridge kept the bridge surface colder than the road so some ice remained there (sometimes this cold air refreezes the water).

In freezing temperatures be careful of bridges, especially when the road itself appears to be safe. This is particularly true in southern areas where ice storms are more prevalent than dry snow. Older drivers should make allowance also for slower reaction and decision making time in a highway crisis such as this black ice incident.
GHD161 all rights reserved

KNOW YOUR COLORS

WRECK-LESS DRIVING©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

KNOW YOUR COLORS
WASHINGTON, DC: Do you know that all across this nation the roadway sign colors have a uniform meaning?
RED: Stop, or Yield, or Do Not Enter, and The Wrong Way.
YELLOW: General, or Warnings (for your safety, not for enforcement)
ORANGE: Maintenance, or Construction.
BLACK: Regulations, or Route Markers.
BROWN: Public Recreation Areas, or Parks.
GREEN: Distance, or Direction, or Information.
WHITE: Regulations (enforceable)(
BLUE: Motorist Services.
YELLOW/GREEN FLUORESCENT: presence of pedestrians or bicyclists

There is one sign that is usually posted on the left side of the roadway. It is the white or yellow pennant shape "No Passing" sign.

Knowing what the colors signify tells us the type of information that is coming long before we can read the words. The states are beginning to recognize that older drivers may read and process more slowly. So the newer signs are larger and may be repeated several times. But the color code remains the same.
GHD160 all rights reserved

TAILGATERS BEWARE

WRECK-LESS DRIVING©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

TAILGATERS BEWARE
THREE LYNX, OR: Driving in the rain on highway 224 Jay Clark was surprised at the number of drivers who were tailgating - driving too close to the vehicle ahead for the road condition. In fair weather on good roads older drivers should use the 3 second rule. When conditions change to less favorable the safe driver backs off to at least a 4 second space cushion. This is measured by selecting a stationary object along the roadside, when the vehicle ahead passes it start counting. Your vehicle should not pass that same object until after the 4 second count.

Sure enough, a few miles ahead Clark came upon a fender-bender. Some critter had run in front of the first car and the car behind could not stop soon enough. None of these older persons were hurt badly, perhaps a whiplash, and certainly a summons for following too close. Maybe a nasty lawsuit. All to save a few seconds which were lost in hours of the crash aftermath. Think about it - how much later will you arrive at your destination if you keep another 25 feet between your car and the car ahead?
GHD159 all rights reserved

FINDING A SAFE DRIVING CLASS

WRECK-LESS DRIVING©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

FINDING A SAFE DRIVING CLASS
SALISBURY, MD: Following my keynote speech at the State TRIAD meeting some of the attendees (police chiefs, sheriffs, and AARP members) asked where they can find AARP Driver Safety Program classrooms in their communities. Others asked how they can sponsor these classes in their facilities.

In either case, one need only locate an Instructor in the home area for this information. Many communities have an AARP Chapter which sponsors classes or can point you towards the local Instructors. The Area Agency on Aging and Senior Centers usually know of these classes. Your local Chamber of Commerce may have a contact number. Other sponsors are hospitals, banks, churches, VFW, American Legion, auto dealers, police and sheriff's departments, optometrists, ophthalmologists, orthopedic surgeons, insurance agents, and hearing and vision centers. Any organization or business which serves older persons would be a willing sponsor. Classes can be found, too, by calling AARP at toll free 1-888.-aarp now (227- 7669) and at www.aarp.org/drive.

In smaller towns individuals can establish classes on their own. Just bring together 12 or more older drivers. A facilitating organization will send an Instructor to your eager-to-learn group. Across the USA more than 1% of the drivers over age 50 complete the course each year. There is a great need for more sponsors and Instructors to help the remaining 50 million Seniors maintain their driving skills. Over the next 15 years another 75 million persons will celebrate their 50th birthday. This column is written to help older drivers keep the streets safer for all of us.
GHD158 all rights reserved

DEFENSIVE DRIVING AT ITS BEST

WRECK-LESS DRIVING©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

DEFENSIVE DRIVING AT ITS BEST
SAN BERNARDINO, CA: Samuel, driving in the left lane on a 4 lane road caught up with an auto in the right lane. The vehicle was a 15 year-old "lead sled", in perfect condition. It had a CB antenna on the roof, a compass on the dash, and the ancient driver was looking through the steering wheel to see out the windshield. Samuel's safe driving training told him to be wary of this oldster, to watch his hands and anticipate any abrupt move.

Instinct paid off again. Suddenly the ancient one's hands started pulling the steering wheel to the left and just as suddenly Samuel's foot was on the brake pedal. The uncommunicative driver decided at the last minute that he wanted to make a left turn. He did not look in his left-side mirror where Sam would be seen easily. Nor did he turn his head and shoulder to check his mirror's blind spot. All of which would have been a more noticeable sign of his intention, to say nothing of using the turn signals. Lucky for him, he got to make the turn without mishap.

Probably he still is not aware how close he came to disaster. Next time some other driver might not be as tuned in to his potential for unsafe maneuvers. He moved abruptly to the left turn lane and sat there with the wheels turned to the left Hopefully no one hit him from behind and pushed him into on-coming traffic. When stopped to make a left turn keep the wheels straight ahead until it is clear to move.
GHD157 all rights reserved