WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WINTER DRIVING

THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL'S COMMITTEE ON WINTER DRIVING HAZARDS HAS BEEN INVOLVED FOR MANY YEARS IN TESTING EQUIPMENT AND TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE DRIVING ON ICE AND SNOW. SINCE 1965, WINTER TESTS HAVE BEEN RUN ON A PROVING GROUND AT STEVENS POINT, WISCONSIN. ONE OF THE IMMEDIATELY USEFUL BITS OF INFORMATION TO COME OUT OF LAST YEAR'S TESTING INVOLVED A NEWLY MARKETED "SPRAY-ON TIRE CHAIN" DESIGNED FOR SHORT-TERM SITUATIONS. THE SAFETY COUNCIL SAYS THE SPARY WORKS "BEAUTIFULLY" IN INSTANCES SUCH AS GETTING A CAR AWAY FROM THE CURB. ANOTHER PRODUCT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. THIS WAS A SYROMATIC SAFETY CONTROL DEVICE FOR PLACEMENT IN AN AUTOMOBILE TRUNK TO INCREASE STABILITY. NOT ONLY DID IT FAIL TO CUT DOWN "FISHTAILING" AND SWERVING DURING HARD BRAKING, IT ACTUALLY INCREASED SKIDDING ON CURVES. BUT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE COME OUT OF TESTS OF STUDDED TIRES. PERHAPS OF GREATEST IMPORT FOR AUTO SAFETY WAS VERIFICATION LAST YEAR THAT PUTTING STUDDED TIRES ON ALL FOUR WHEELS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE CHANCES OF SKIDDING OUT OF A TURN. CARS SO EQUIPPED WERE ABLE TO INCREASE CORNERING SPEEDS BY 24 PER CENT. /AUTHOR/

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Vol 45, No 1, PP 14-17
  • Publication Date: 1969-1

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00220404
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Mar 9 1970 12:00AM