The future is dark and wei y SHEN 7 Contin signals ANYBODY notice a rainy day over the last tew weeks? There’s been a couple and I, Shaun, your friendly neighborhood psychic, predict a few moxe over the next several months. Driving conditions change quite dramatically during the rainy season. Visibility is reduced, the roads are slick and pools of water gather just about anywhere that gravity sees fit. Here are a few aps to help you drivers deal with a wet, Vancouver winter. Heavy rain, fog, mist and darkness each affect your ability to see prope.ty, Slowing down is your first, best, defensive dri- ving practice. It gives you a lit- de bit more time to assess and anticipate traffic and its haz- ards, It is important, therefore, to look well ahead into traffic. This enables you to anticipate any potential hazard or block- age. in your lane. How far ahead, you ask? As far ahead as your vision allows, responds Shaun, ‘Thatis to say, ifyou can see ten blocks down the street, look ten blocks down the street — find cut what’s going on before you're in the thick of it. Since roads are quite slip- pery when they are wer, bring- ing you car to a screeching, halt is no longer an option. A slip- sliding halt is possible, but undesirable. You can avoid such problems by looking ahead. If you sce a reason, or possible reason, to stop a block or two down the road, slow down before you get there. Never be in a rush to become part of the clutter. Hang back and you just might find that said clutter clears before you even arrive. If by chance, you are forced -to slam on the brakes you may find that your car just doesn’t stop like it would have on a dry road. ‘In this case, slamming the brakes is the wrong thing to do. Push the brake pedal only enough to slow the car; if the tires lock up (skid), case off the pedal and then apply the brakes again with slightly less pressure. Repeat as necessary. This is known as “threshold braking” (or “pumping”) and it is what ABS (Anti-thought Braking System) does for you. Please be aware that you cannot steer if your front tres are skidding — which is why threshold braking was invented. It may seem like a lot to remember in that moment of panic when you are slamming on your brakes, but if you are looking ahead, you'll rarely find your- self in that predicament. There is another option, of course. You could do very lit- de braking, a little bit of steer- ing, and avoid the skidding part ail together, While you are looking ahead, plan a hyporhet- ical “escape route” should something go wrong, in front of you. "Also, driving though a pool of water on the road is likely to cause hydroplaning. — This is where your car tires actually skim across the surface of water, much like a water ski, and cause you ta lose some or all control of your vehicle. Don’t panic. Don’t slam) on the brakes, Don't try any sud- den movement with the steer- ing wheel, Ease off the gas pedal gently; as the car deceler- SERVICE ates your tires will break through die surface water and find the pavement again -- if your tires are turned sharply or are locked up when tis hap- pens, you will find yourself’ traveling in an abruptly differ- ent direction! Finally, check those rear- view mirrors. Remember that the cars behind you will have USED PARTS (MECHANICAL & BODY PARTS) FRED. 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Check fan blades and pulleys for alignment 10.intemal and extemal inspection of all hoses for cracks and deterioration i 11,Chack core plugs (where possible) for seap- -- age . 12. Rafili systam with correct” coolant and chuck for air locks 13. Check conditien and tension of drive belts with tansion gaugo _ OFFER EXPIRES OCT, 18/96 E a) I - |Goodwrench | Service es EXTENDED HOURS OF SERVICE » gy Bion. =.Thurs. 7:30am - 7:00 pm Fri. - Sat. 7:20am - 6:00pm the same lessened ability to stop when it's wer, Keep thisin mind. Sure, the car which rear- ends someone is almost always at fault, but this will be of little consolation if you are injured or dead. Glorious torrents of rain in our future, predicts Shaun. Slow down, Heads up. Be sate. BEFORE YOU VENTURE ABROAD explore the News for new travel ads every Sunday urhed into..a night An accident or illness can st anyone...at anytime. Many people travel out-of-prevince and don’t realize the risk. Your B.C. 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