MOTORING
MOTORING JOURNALIST
SYD TAYLOR
TAKES A LIGHT-HEARTED LOOK AT WINTER MOTORING
According to forecasters one of the coldest winters is about to hit Britain with regular cold fronts sweeping across the country and prolonged bitter spells. That’ s not good news for motorists.
In today’ s unpredictable climate a freeze-box effect is just as likely as a greenhouse effect, so wise drivers must be ready to deal with any eventuality. Everyone knows that winter journeys bring hazards for the unwary and illprepared, so it pays to look at ways to enable you to keep on motoring whatever the weather.
You might not need snow chains in Staffordshire, but it goes without saying that at the first sign of snow, a shovel and a bit of old carpet to put under the driving wheels are essential items for the boot. I always carry a bag of industrial rock salt: but have a care that following motorists aren’ t the recipients of a salt blizzard. They might take exception to the perceived attempt to reduce their vehicles to a pile of rust. Violence in winter can be no less furious than in summertime. Curiously, the blood can still run hot even in the chilliest climes.
The importance of keeping a cool head in any stressful situation cannot be overemphasised. Don’ t react like one local motorist did when his car slid into a snow bank. Failing to extricate it, his shovel was transmogrified into a weapon of hate directed at the former loved one that had let him down so badly. When the car was finally towed free, it sported enough indentations in the panelling to enable it to double as a colander. Readers should note that this is thoroughly unacceptable behaviour.
It is, of course, always best to avoid those sort of situations, and the importance of constantly reading the road ahead cannot be overstated. Be on the lookout for little telltale signs – like the car upside down in the hedgerow and the stunned driver standing bewildered by the roadside. And if the car in front of you should suddenly execute an alarming pirouette – remember that standing on the brakes might not be the best thing to do. Today’ s motorists often overlook the fact that taking one’ s foot off the accelerator pedal will slow the car down.
For those of you whose journeys involve changes in altitude from mist-shrouded valleys to chilly hilltops, it must be remembered that road conditions can change markedly in a short distance. Again, in snow, tracks left by vehicles that have passed earlier are often a reliable indicator of the conditions ahead. If a track starts to snake like a fairground ride – beware! You don’ t want to ride the waltzer just yet. If you do get into a skid in a rear wheel drive car, steer in the direction you are skidding. Front wheel drive cars are not quite so easy to control.
On that early frosty morn when snow lies deep and crisp and even and the familiar landscape has been transformed into a picturesque novelty, you must avoid the temptation to rubberneck at the scenery. Remember, motoring is a serious business and one’ s eyes should stick firmly to the potential hazards lurking ahead. As for winter sunlight in the mornings and evenings- this can be particularly dazzling. Readers are reminded to avoid looking directly at the sun.
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