Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-19
Often What S Blamed
On Bad Weather
Is Just Bad DRIVING
By Corter Walker

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are daily proof that today's au-
tomobile driver finds bad weather
his Waterloo.
It may be just a week end of
rain or a sudden shower, but it
is enough to throw him for a
loop.
Engineers are mystified be-
cause they have built into cars
every known safety device.
The accessory market also
adds variety of products which
are specifically designed to help
the driver when the going isn't
normal.
Yet an unexpected rain or even
high winds bring on a rash of
accidents. Newspaper files for
the past several winters have
shown that minor snowstorms
have invariably disrupted traffic
because drivers have been unable
to cope with reduced traction and
visibility. Why?
Safety students are looking for
the answer. Is it the bad weather
that causes all the highway grief
or bad driving? Does the mod
ern highway with its safety fea-
lures encourage careleSSness or
check the desire for learning spe-
cial SkillS? Is it because COM
paratively few undesirable users
of the road endanger the lives of
those who could get along in foul
weather If not interferred with?
Is it simply because there are
too many cars on the roads?
Not Abreast Of Changes.
An opinion that is gaining
popularity among safety advo-
Gates is the belief that motorists
have not kept abreast of the
mechanical changes in their cars.
This seems to be demonstrated
by the large number of skids
caused by using the kick-down
feature of the accelerator where
cars are equipped with overdrive
or automatic transmissions.
Owners fail to appreciate how
much extra power is suddenly
thrown to the rear wheels.
Another hint Of this situation
is the misuse Of power braking.
When traction Is at low ebb only
so much braking force can be
applied to the wheels, and to ex-
coed this is merely to prolong
the skid. The more power that
Is available to the driver the
greater the chances are of the
wheels locking and the tires slid
ing.
Used to Have Controls.
When power brakes were first
introduced back in the mid
thirties they were equipped with
an instrument board control so
that in slippery weather the
driver could adjust for a mini
mum of braking power. thus eff
fectively lessening the chances
OF locking the wheels.
With the current power brak-
Ing this reduction in declaration
has to be done by the driver
which is difficult unless he is
experienced.
Power steering hasn't lessened
the risk Of a steering skid with
the result that many will go into
slippery curves too fast and find
that the elaborate booster mech
anism on the steering gear is
powerless to prevent the front
tires from failing to get traction.
The car will just slide straight
ahead of the road. just as it
used to do with the simplest
steering mechanism.
There seems to be plenty of
evidence that owners have not
kept pace with changes in their
cars and that the very respon-
siveness of today's car is a
handicap in bad weather. Many
a skid today is merely the re-
suit of a driver unleashing too
much horsepower.
Many New Advantages.
Those who look on the
brighter side of the pictures
point out that today's car Of
fers many safety advantages
which should help the driver
to greater ease in handling his
property when conditions are
adverse.
There is the great improve
ment in tires, for one thing.
Not only do they give greater
traction but they are offered in
various forms to prevent loss of
control in event of a sudden
fat.
Self-sealing tubes often pre-
vent the swaying which follows
a partially Debated tire, and
which may bring on a skid.
Inc very power which can be
misused by the unsuspecting
driver may also be used to good
advantage by any driver who
understands the score.
Improved Visibility.
Other aids are greatly i'm
proved visibility, more efficient
windshield wiping, better head
lighting which is most notice.
able when driving in the rain,
and a host of special equipment
ranging from wide angle rear
view mirrors to anti-sWay bars
and skid controls.
Partial def1ation of tires is
still a useful idea, although the
new quick-on tire chains are
the better yet.
Sand still is useful for get
ting traction in emergencies and
can be used in special sanders
which drop sand ahead of the
rear wheels.
(The Russell service.)