Driving in the snow - #1

Here in the Northeast, people do not prepare their cars for the snow.

Specifically, here is the story on tires:

1. You must use snow or all season tires

2. The tread must be at least 6/32 deep (The Lincoln penny test is only 2/32, you need 3 times this to drive in snow).

3. The tires should not be over 5 years old.

If you don't meet all 3 criteria - YOU SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD IN THE SNOW.

ChrisZ

4 minutes

Your Physical Condition

Working------------------

You are excited. You just can't wait to get behind the wheel. Sure you are a little tired, but what does that matter?

Or:

What a great party. It was a great sendoff for a friend leaving for Iraq. And you did a great job of only having two beers (assuming you are old enough). You are are so calm and relaxed.

Now, in either case, should you be driving? Well, it depends. In either case your driving skills are impaired. The amount of impairment will vary from person to person.

If you are going to drive your best, and protect your passengers here are some things to think about:

1. Drugs, legal or illegal can affect your reaction time. At 60 miles per hour you will be traveling at 88 feet per SECOND. Even at 30 miles per hour you travel 44 feet in the time you can say "One, One Thousand". This is why you should stay 2 seconds behind the car in front. (But that will be explained later.)

2. Sleep - you need a good night's sleep in order to drive your best. A lack of sleep can be just as damaging as taking drugs.

3. Physical injuries. - got a sprained ankle or wrist - maybe you should think twice about driving - especially if it means you cannot press on the brake or turn the steering wheel fast enough to avoid an accident.

Now a hangnail should not keep you from driving, nor should taking cold medicine keep you from going to the doctor. However, you have to think every time you get in a car, am I 100% or do I need to pay extra special attention to my driving today?

Safe Driving

"The purpose of driving is to get you and your passengers to your destination safely"


Lets look at this part of the rule first.

Cars are much safer than they used to be. This gives drivers a false sense of security. You have to remember - it is not going fast that hurts, but stopping fast. In this your job is not to hit anything. This almost sounds laughable - of course you don't plan on hitting anything. However, what are you doing to actively prevent this?


Let's Break this down to 4 categories:


1. Your Physical and Mental Condition

2. The Condition of your car

3. Your driving style

4. The other driver


We will examine these in the next entries.

1. Golden Rule of Driving

Here is the golden rule of driving: 

The purpose of driving is to transport you and your passengers to your destination safely and efficiently, and to help other drivers do the same. 

 Every decision you make on the road can trace itself back to that sentence. Commit this to memory!

Borrowing from Star Trek, I will now call this the Prime Directive!

Welcome to the Driving Professor

For many years I have been studying driving. I have had the opportunity to work with instructors at the Skip Barber Driving School and also as an instructor myself with the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America). I have been the head of a car club and written many articles on driving. Now that I have seen both my sons get their licenses, I want to formalize all the things that I have learned.

This information is copywrited but free for publication as long as credit is given. All I ask at this point is that if you use my work that you copy it accurately and send me a copy of the finished product, either in printed or electronic form.

Please send to:

Chris Zarzycki
159 Garden Street
Torrington CT 06790

e-mail cmz55-chrisz@yahoo.com