Winter started Friday, how's your car?

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 7, Issue 338, 5 June 1990, Page 9

Winter started Friday, how's your car?

The colder winter months are almost here and drivers should by now be giving their cars a pre-winter checkup. This should include the following: Tyres- Check for a 1.5mm tread depth on all tyres. In winter traction is reduced by slippery roads and it becomes more important than ever to ensure that tyres are in first class condition. Make sure the spare tyre is included in the check. Tyres should also be checked for cracks or bulges in the walls, and for correct inflation. Know the recommended pressure for the car's tyres and make the pressure check part of the regular oi! and water level checks. Over-inflated tyres are more likely to skid. Incorrectly inflated tyres can also reduce the life of the tyre. If liquid tyre sealants are used as a temporary emergency measure after a puncture or blowout, it is important that drivers should proceed with extreme care to the nearest service station. Brakes- Check for wear. Is the master cylinder topped up? Exhaust systemmake sure there are no holes. Battery- clean the terminals and tighten the leads. Check the water levels. Spark plugs- clean and check the gap. Are the leads firm? Fanbelt- check for wear. Air cleaner- if your air cleaner has summer/winter setting, set to winter. Radiator- if you live in an area where water freezing in the radiator is a possibility, use an antifreeze in the cooling system. Carburettor- check for leaks. Windscreen- check the windscreen wiper blades. If worn, replace. Keep the windscreen washer bottle full. Protect your windscreen with cloth or sacking if

parking for a few hours in freezing temperatures. Keep handy at all times a clean cloth, antimist spray and solution to clear grime from fogged or dirty windscreens. Heaters/Demisters check they are working properly. Body work- check rust spot-s and clean them. Plug leaks in window surrounds. Emergency equipraent- check that the jack works. Put a torch in the car and check the batteries and bulb frequently. Carry a first aid kit. Also consider a tow rope and battery jumper leads.

Driving in difficult weather conditions Fog Fog can give some drivers a false sense of security. It can be very deceptive by concealing some objects and not others. Drivers should keep their headlights dipped because a high beam is reflected back and will cause glare and obstruct visibility. Slow down. By keeping watch on the left side of the road drivers can use curbs and road markings as a guide. Don't follow these blindly however, as there is a danger of running into parked vehicles. Sound is muffled in fog so be alert for vehicles ahead. Keep the vehicle well ventilated and the windscreen clear with a flick of the wipers if necessary. Drivers should reduce speed so that they can

stop within their range of vision. Don't be tempted to overtake. The vehicle ahead clears a space which can make it appear that the fog has eased. The fog will be as thick as ever once you pull out to pass. In areas where fog is a persistent hazard during winter, it could be worthwhile to have fog lights fitted to your vehicle. Wet weather driving It is important to slow down in the wet. Not only are road surfaces more slippery than usual but stopping distances are nearly doubled. For example, if travelling at 50 km/h on a dry road with good brakes, a car will stop in 26 metres. On a wet road it will take 40 metres to stop. Because the stopping distance has increased, the distance between . vehicles travelling on the road should also be increased. Allowance can be made for this decrease in braking ability by slowing down. This will avoid slamming on your brakes in an emergency with the possibility of going into a skid. The best way to stop in the wet is to apply the brakes progressively. This will prevent the wheels locking. Slower speeds also give drivers time to spot hazards such as water lying on the road. Driving fast through surface road water may make a vehicle aquaplane and cause water to be forced into the engine, drowning it. Water spray can also ob-

struct vision. The early phase of rain is a dangerous time because it creates a slick film on the road which is particularly slippery. It takes a period of continuous hard rain to wash it away. Corners present particular problems in these conditions. Slow down well before the corner, not halfway around it. Otherwise the car could skid off the road or into an oncoming car. Another big danger when driving in the wet or fog is the lack of side vision. Watch out for pedestrians crossing the road and cars turning out of side streets. In the wet, much depends on the effectiveness of the windscreen wipers. Rubber blades can deteriorate rapidly if a car is frequently parked in the sun. If wipers can't cope with a sudden downpour, pull into the side of the road and stop, or at least slow down and leave plenty of room between the car and the vehicle ahead. Driving at night in rain is one of the most difficult conditions a driver encounters as visibility is reduced enormously. There is usually glare on the windscreen and the road is slippery. Rain on the headlights scatter the beams and make them less effective. All this adds up to potentially dangerous situations. Crashes at night in wet weather occur at about twice the rate of daytime wet weather accidents. Commonly, collisions occur with stationary objects such as power poles and fences - and with pedestrians. These accidents are influenced by poor visibility as well as stopping distances. By slowing down in the wet, drivers have time to react and cope if the unexpected happens. Remember that other drivers won't be seeing too well either. Nor will pedestrians. Few road users really

appreciate the reduced level of vision that occurs in the wet. Simply reducing speed to fit the conditions will help ensure safety. Snow and ice When planning winter driving in snow and ice it is important to ensure that the car in is tip-top condition mechanically. This can be achieved by making sure that a thorough pre-winter check is carried out on the vehicle. Also make sure that enough fuel is carried for the journey. Just as for wet weather driving, it is important to adjust speed to cope with the conditions that exist. This means slowing down to avoid skidding, anticipating hazards, keeping a good distance between the car and the vehicle in front and avoiding braking suddenly. If a driver must apply brakes in icy conditions then this should be done slowly and progressively. Chains will aid a vehicle's traction in snow and or ice. Make sure the

chains are the correcl size for your tyres. Pack them in an easily accessible place in the car. It can be difficull to unload a boot in the snow to get at chains. Another good idea is to carry a sheet of plastic to lie on when fitting chains. Practice putting on chains before they need to be used. This

will save time and hassles when they have to be fitted in difficult weather conditions. Drive slowly when chains are fitted. Otherwise they may damage the tyres. For the same reason, take the chains off when the road conditions improve and they are no longer needed.