Winter Driving: Hassles & Hazards

Happy New Year!

ThU fill’s balmy weather has probably lulled many Cape May County residents into e false sense of security The cold blasts of winter, it seemed, decided to sojourn -*—-- a *i-i-eisewnere iJiis season. But, winter, now officially five days old, is here and bring with it a perennial cold weather problem: winter chiving. One driving problem, skidding, particularly aggravated by ice and snow, is the leading cause of traffic accidents year-

round, Bon Judyski, Cape May County Traffic Safety Co-ordinator said. About 40 percent of all accidents are the result of vehicle skids, Judyski said. And, when it comes to winter driving, the chances of a skidding accident occuring are greatly in-

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"Let the people know that skidding is very serious,” Judyski said. Skidding as an accident cause is, indeed, considered so serious, the county traffic department has a skid school that teaches drivers the hazards of such a situation and how to recover safely. ' ’When we’re snowbound, surprising enough, collisions are not as severe,” Judyski said. Cara marooned -on the center island of the Garden State Parkway are a familiar winter site, he

Negotiation of bridges create two logistical problems for winter drivers, according to the traffic coordinator. Cans crossing the bridge are "boxed in” and if travelling at speeds too high far weather conditions have nowhere to swerve to avoid oncoming vehicles Abo, visibility problems in not being able to see over the crest of the bridge are hazardous, Judyski added. Drivers should also beware of partial clearups on all roads, Judyski aidvised. Patches of snow or ice on an otherwise clear road often surprise a driver, causing the car to hydroplane and the driver to laae control, he ex-

The moat hazardous winter driving areas for county residents are bridges, Judyski warned. Because bridges are

freezing air seeps up through the bridge planks freezing the bridge surface, be explained

When A car starts to go into a skid, the driver's first tendency is to hit the brakes in an attempt to reduce speed. But, that reaction is exactly what a driver should not do, Judyski said. Hitting the brakes going into a skid locks the brakes and essentially loses all control of die vehicle for the driver. "Tires are dumb, they don't know what force is

being exerted on them,” Judyski said. Judyski's advice: "stay off the brakes and the throttie.” When going to a skid, the correct countering action is: -get off the gas -get off the brake

-pat the chitch In neutral (for standard cars) -counter steer to the direction of the skid Drivers should not concentrate on thinking of ■ whether to steer right or left to counter the skid. That only confuses the situation, Judyski said.

County To Study Navigational Safety

TESTING THE WATERS. Researchers will study the Delaware Bay early nett year to determine navigational hazards for tankers and the effect of tanker traffic of commercial boating In the bay. The study will examine Coast Guard and other shipping records to determine the safety of navigation hi the hay. (Coast Guard File Photo).

COURT HOUSE - Navigational hazards in the Delaware Bay and their effect on commercial booting is the subject of a *10,000 study that will be undertaken by the county -. (nearly 1980. The study, funded by the National Oceanic, and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is one of 15-energy related projects funded by a NOAA grant totalling II. 1 million. The projects, most of which will be conducted in South Jersey, will focus on offshore oil and gas exploration, oil tanker facilities and the overall impacts t»f energy development on . New Jersey's coastal resort economy. Bill Hughes, NJ. 2nd District Congressman said. Cape May County will be a joint recipient of a $22,540 grant to hold a series of energy siting workshops that encourage public participating. The area wHl also benefit from a *200,000 grant used

to assess the potential impacts of energy development on the resort industry in the state, Hughes said, the study is designed to incorporate the needs of the tourism industry into such decisions as energy facility siting and disaster protection and compensation programs The navigational hazards study will be overseen by the Cape May County Planning Board. “The purpose of the study is to look at the adequacy of navigational aids to the Delaware Bay, Ed Filipski, project coordinator said. The study was called for because the planning board the bay is suspected to have a higher than normal number of ship groundings." Filipski explained. Conclusive data' deter mining the grounding and collision rate in the bay has never been complied in a study, the planner said. “At the start our gut feeling is there are a higher number of groundings

(than normal)" Filipski said. The bay study will examine the amount of traffic in the bay, how shipping procedures are carried out, and determine if existing navigational aids are inadequate, the planner said. “Ve’re concerned mainly about is there was an oil tVker collision what would happen to the Delaware^ Bay," Filipski said. * The study will not directly determine the feasibility of a deepwater port in the bay, but could touch on it indirectly In determining the effects of existing tanker traffic, the planner said. A proposed work program developed by the county Planning Botin) has been sent to five consultants who will in turn make proposal bids for the study. The study is expected to start in early 1980 and be (Page 20 Please)

"The idea is not to think in tons of right and left. Think of the tail end and the skid angle," he explained. But, the best technique for skid control is prevention. Judyndl emphasized. Learn to read the road in advance. Carefully judge your route of travel, potential hazards, weather conditions and speed sothat driving can be adjusted appropriately, Judyski suggested. Other winter driving tips suggested by the Safe Winter Driving League in Chicago include: -Get the "feel” of the road by accelerating carefully to see if the wheels spin; or brake gently to see if they skid. Reduce speed accordingly. -Increase your follwing distance. It takes three to nine times as far to stop on snow and ice.as on dry pavement. «> -"Pump" your brakes to slow or stop-don’t jam them on. An intermittent pumping action keeps the wheels rolling and helps maintain steering control. -Have good tires with good trends. Better yet, use snow tires which provide half again as much pulling power in snow as regular tires. Studded snow tires (where permitted) offer still more help on icy surfaces. -Always carry reinforced tire chains in the trunk of your car for use during severe snow and ice conditions. They provide four to seven tinea as (Page 3 Please)