The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-01-18
Prepare For
BAD Weather,
SAYS Official

HELENA.-Just as you can't buy
time on battlefield, Highway Pa
troll Supervisor Chas. L. Sheridan
asserted here today, so you can't
buy midsummer weather in which
10 drive your essential automobile
10 the battlefield of war production
here at home.
But Just as the prudent command
er secures his lines of supply before
the battle begins, Chief Sheridan
said, the prudent driver can make
sure beforehand that he can get to
work safely in sleet and snow and
ice.
The way to do this, he explained,
is to see that your anti-skid chains
are in place, and your defroster and
windshield wipers in perfect con-
dition, before you become a. winter
weather absentee from your essen
tial job.
According to the National Safety
Councils Committee on Winter
Driving Hazards, one war produc-
lion plant reported to the u. S. De-
partment of Labor that 3l.7 per cent
of its absentees, over six-Week
winter test period. gave trans
portation' as the cause for their not
being on the job.
The Committee on Winter Driv-
ing Hazards stresses the import
ance of both winter road mainte-
nance and prepared drivers in get
ting workers to their jobs. I'M
portant highways must be plowed
to free traffic to and from import
ant work centers. But even city,
county and state highway depart
snents, Chief Sheridan frankly
states, can't do il all, and severe
or repeated storms do occasionally
defeat the best of snow removal
crews. During these intervals of
battle with Old Man Winter even
main roads are slippery and diff
cult for unprepared drivers. Labor
shortage also makes it inevitable
that some lesser streets and sec
ondary roads will be passed up by
the maintenance crews. 1t is there
that self-help equipment of vehicles
is important. he continued.
He urged commercial fleet oper-
a.ors and private motorists to check
their winter safety equipment at
once, and repair or replace all parts
not IN working order Needed parts
Of such vital equipment as heater
defrosters and anfi-skid chains
should be salvaged from old mate
rial, or obtained new where posi-
BILE, at once. he declared. and anti
freeze should be brought up to
maximum strength.
Chief Sheridan cautioned all
drivers ags inst the faults He said
the Committee on Winter Driving
Hazards had noted as the country
entered its third full winter Of war.
These, he said, are false sense
Of security because their vehicles
ere running at less than prewar
speed, and lack Of alertness be-
cause traffic is not as dense as it
was in times Of peace.
Wartimes IS mile speed, said
Chief Sheridan, presents few diff
culties on dry pavements, but driv-
ing at this speed over ice along
with reduced winter visibility, is
an invitation to disaster. These
safety rules, he said, are still vital
Adjust speed to weather condi-
ton. Slow down before you reach
an intersection or curve. Don't get
too close 10 the car in front. Put
on your anti-skid chains when roads
are slippery. Signal that you mean
to turn or stop. It takes three te
II times normal distance to stoE
on snow OF ice without tire chains
See that your defroster and wind
shield Wipcrs give you maximum
visibility.