East Cleveland leader. [volume] (East Cleveland, Ohio) 1942-1970, 1961-12-14

| A car performance OH lCS
or snow-covered pavement can
be viewed in two different
ways, Chief of Police H. S.
Weaver said today.
One is the drivers view, as
he grips the steering wheel,
hits the brakes. and experiences
that helpless, hopeless feeling
of riding a vehicle out of con-
troll, skidding relentlessly to-
ward the inevitable crash.
The other is the scientists
view, characterized by years
of research and analysis Of the
type carried on by the Com
mittee on Winter Driving Haz-
ards of the National Safety
Council.
Discusses Scientists Views
Although Chief Weaver ap-
preciates the human side Of the
problem, today he chose to dis
cuss what the scientists have
learned. and what in turn can
be learned from them.
He pointed out that extensive
skid tests under all types of
winter driving conditions have
confirmed that bralling dis
tances on winter surfaces are
from three to II times as great
as on dry pavement. Other
scientific test findings follow:
The most slippery surface
of all is moist ice, at or near
the melting point. So be extra
careful on glare ice when tenn
peratures are around 80 de-
grees above zero.
Contrary to a popularity
held belief. traction on winter
surfaces is not improved by
letting air out of tires. Rec
commended tire pressures should
be maintained at all times.
Compacts VS. Heavies
Light, compact cars tend to
slightly outperform heavier
vehicles in braking on ice;
however, the larger cars dis
play better "cornering" ability.
"These facts have been
proved by actual test, and the
National Safety Council has
been bringing most Of them to
our attention for years" Chief
Weaver pointed out. scientists
have also made elaborate tests
on equipment designed to i'm
prove vehicle stop-and-go trac-
ton on winter surfaces. This
life-saving information has
also been made available by
the council to interested vehicle
owners and drivers"
He cited public test conclu-
sions which prove that for
starting and pulling ability on
glare ice snow tires are only
% per cent better, and rein
forced tire chains are 400 per
cent better than regular tires.
On loosely packed snow, snow
tires are 81 per cent better
while reinforced tire chains
are 313 per cent better at pull
ing through than regular tires.
Tire Chains Superior
In stopping ability, which
might also be called accident
preventability," reinforced tire
chains were again proved super
ior. On glare ice, at 20 mph,
braking distances for regular
tires averaged 1875 feet, for
snow tires ia feet, for reg
ular tire chains 90 feet, and
for reinforced tire chains II
feet. On loosely packed snow
braking distances for regular
tires averaged so feet, for snow
tires SO feet, and for reinforced
tire chains 3S feet.
The chief explained that
Prof A. n. Saston. University
Of Wisconsin, chairman Of the
National Safety Councils win
ter committee, has listed var
ious tires and traction devices
Sin the approximate order Of
increasing effectivenss on win
ter surfaces" From the poorest
to the best, they are, according
70 actual tests:
Don't Use Smooth Tires
Smooth tires fshould not bel
used), regular tires, winterized
tires, mud-snow tires. tires
with embedded metal coils with
ribs. sanders. reg
ular tire chains, reinforced
tire chains.
"The researchers have not
found any type of equipment +
which would permit driver
to operate as fast on ice or
snow as he would on dry pave
ment," Chief Weaver empha
sized. "They firmly recommend