The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-24

nome ana SugECSCed couSlderaGtOu of two facts: D That air raids on the United Kingdom during Sep ternber killed 6,954 civilians and iF1- jured l0,6l5, while during the same month in the United States nearly half as many persons were Killed and ten times as many injured by traffic accidents. 9 That nineteen months of the last world war claimed lives of 50.5l0 American soldiers, while during the past nine-, teen months 52,O10 persons were killed in automobile accidents in the U. s. The figures for nineteen months are cited because, that was the length of time the United States was involved in the last war.
 This Illustrates" he said, "the importance of safety education, en- gilleering and enforcement"
 Professor Mover and his commit tee left nothing to theory, no mat ter how seemingly logical, but got the facts by conducting over 3,00O tests on frozen Lake Cadillac in Northern Michigan and on snow packed roads near the Iowa. State Experiment Station, for the Ma tional Safety Council and the Safe Winter Driving league.
 A previous study of accident rec ordS proved skidding as the chief cause of winter accidents. Skidding was shown to be involved in only per cent of accidents on dry roads, 27 per cent on wet roads, and up to 50 per cent on snowy-icy roads. It takes, on the average, 3 to 10 times the normal distance to stop on snow or ice without tire chains The second most important cause is reduced visibility, resulting from longer hours of darkness, snow and sleet storms, and fog.
 The National Safety Councils committee on winter driving haz- ards, composed of thirty-two leading authorities in all branches of re- search and automotive transporta- tion, is making strong counter attack" on Old Man Winter by ex- ploding fallacial theories and prov ing most practical methods for safe winter driving by impartial research and tests, according to Judge Harry H. Porter, of Evanston, H., presi- dent of the Safe Winter Driving league. He is also general chair man of the councils street and highway traffic section, and point ed out traffic deaths for the first ten months of 1940 have increased 6 per cent over last year, almost in direct proportion to the increase in travel mileage based on gas con- sumption.
 Cut Down Speed
 While various state and munich pal authorities are doing everything practicable to keep highways open and as safe as snow removal crews can make them, motorists must CO., operate with decreased speed and proven methods for prevention of accidents caused by Old Man Win ter" Judge Porter declared, Win ter driving, which is most desirable because of the comfort and pro- lection a car affords against cold and bad weather, can be safe with few simple and practical precau- tions-but they must be observed in the interest of public safety, or don't drive"
 Hazards Outlined
 The following Winter Driving Hazards and the vital Safety Prac- tices in each instance provide a handy condensed formula for pro- tecting pedestrians, other motorists, your car and yourself:
 l. SKIDS ON SNOW OR ICE ARE FREQUENTLY STARTED BY UNEQUALIZED BRAKES. Have your brakes checked and equalized. The practice of letting air out of tires for snow and ice conditions has been proven fallacy, since it gives very little added traction and in- creases instability and tendency to skid on curves. It also damages tires. making them more susceptible to later blowouts.
 ?. WITHOUT CHAINS EVEN GOOD TIRE THREADS SLIP AND SLIDE ON SNOW OR ICE. Chains bite into hard-packed snow or icy road surface. Check your tire chains. Put them on when needed for more positive stop-and-go trac- tion.
 3. WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND DEFROSTERS THAT DON'T OP- ERATE LEAD TO WINTER AC- CIDENTS. Make sure wipers and defrosters are in good working or der. You must see a hazard to avoid it.
 4. FAULTY HEADLIGHTS are PRIME CAUSES OF WINTER AC- CIDENTS. 1940-4l cars with sealed beam headlights add to safety. But use traffic beam" in city or when passing other cars in country. Re- place dead light bulbs immediately. Have headlights checked for focus and direction.
 5. HIGH SPEEDS on SNOW or ICE are DOUBLY DANGEROUS. Adjust your speed to conditions. Even when protected with chains, speeds should be reduced from those considered reasonable on dry pave- ments Keep an eye out for chil- dren on sleds. Approach icy curves slowly even with sand on ice or ss sE
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