Lyn St. James: Drive Safer America!
18 November 1997
Indy Car Champion Warns of Dangers on Roads In Unpredictable Weather and During Changing Seasons
As Weather Gets Unpredictable, Many Drivers Forget About Roadway Hazards
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 18 -- The unpredictability of
winter weather can create hazardous driving conditions and motorists need to
prepare for potential hazards by remembering to practice safe driving
techniques, according to Indy Car racing champion Lyn St. James.
"Fallen leaves which remain on streets become slick as ice when wet.
Early snowfall, strong winds and storms are occurring in several states, many
with heavy rain and flooding. With unpredictable weather conditions,
increased precipitation and slippery roads, drivers must be more alert than
ever," she warns. "More than 40,000 people died on our roads in 1996 and the
number of fatal crashes due to inclement weather conditions rose by 30 percent
between 1992 and 1996. It's time to take even more care than usual."
"Also, the temptation in areas where the weather remains warm is to think
that good weather means drivers don't need to take as much care on the road.
This is not true -- even when the weather is warmer, it's dangerous for
drivers to think they no longer need to practice the cautious driving
techniques they used when there is snow or water on the road," said Ms. St.
James.
"At this time of year, people need to start to think about the dangerous
driving situations that will be posed by the unpredictable weather patterns
associated with the approaching winter months."
World renowned as one of the first and the fastest women to race in
Indianapolis 500 history, Ms. St. James believes that public awareness is
vital to helping consumers, especially younger drivers, master safer driving
techniques and practices.
As part of the company's endeavor to promote safer driving, ITT Automotive
launched the Drive Safer America! program back in February 1997, in
conjunction with Ms. St. James. In this national safe driving initiative, ITT
Automotive, in association with Ms. St. James, has developed a series of
techniques and practices that all drivers can apply year round, especially in
inclement weather.
Included in Ms. St. James' recommendations is the use of four-wheel anti-
lock braking systems (ABS) which, according her, offers year round safety
advantages over conventional braking systems by preventing the wheels from
locking during hard braking situations and helping drivers to be able to steer
and maintain control over their vehicles.
"Our message is simple, as an industry leader in developing automotive
safety technology and expertise, ITT Automotive is taking a greater role in
helping educate drivers about how to properly operate their vehicles," said
Frank Macher, president of ITT Automotive. "We help fulfill that mission with
the 'Drive Safer America!' awareness campaign."
Ms. St. James notes that in unpredictable weather, drivers are more likely
than ever to encounter hazards such as deep puddles of water that may cause
hydroplaning. During the winter, temperatures hover around the freezing
point, and rain and melted snow can refreeze, meaning that drivers are also
likely to find patches of ice that are difficult to see from the driver's
seat. As the weather warms up and roads begin to dry, she further reminds
motorists to be on the look out for shaded areas that may remain slick.
To combat these challenging driving conditions, Ms. St. James recommends
that motorists drive slower on wet roads and retain a longer distance between
their car and the car ahead. She notes that it can take up to ten times
farther to stop on a wet road than a dry one. In addition, she recommends
checking tire treads to ensure that the tire has at least 1/8 inch of tread
intact to prevent hydroplaning. Finally, she recommends that drivers take
stock of the day's weather conditions before getting behind the wheel, and
that they adjust their driving accordingly.
For a free "Drive Safer America!" brochure or free ABS instructional
video, consumers can call 800-694-5200. To learn more about "Drive Safer
America!" and accident avoidance safety measures, consumers can access the
Internet site located at: http://www.ittautomotive.com/drivesafer.
Drive Safer America! Safe Driving Tips
In support of its "Drive Safer America!" public awareness program, Lyn St.
James and ITT Automotive have compiled the following safety information and
recommendations to help drivers understand the proper techniques for driving
safely year round in normal or adverse road and weather conditions.
Sensible Driving Habits:
According to Ms. St. James, a world renowned professional race car driver,
mother and business woman, the most important tool for safe driving is good
common sense. Weather and traffic conditions may make it necessary to drive
more slowly, regardless of posted speed limits.
* Leave a longer interval between you and the vehicle ahead. Practice
the two-second rule when following another vehicle. Start counting when the
vehicle ahead of you passes an identifiable marker, (i.e. street lamp, sign or
overpass) -- one thousand one, one thousand two -- if you pass the same marker
before you've finished counting, you're too close. In bad weather, Ms. St.
James recommends increasing your following distance.
* Don't make abrupt direction or steering changes -- gradually
accelerate, brake and steer. In a skid, ease off the accelerator and turn the
steering wheel in the direction of the skid.
* All passengers should wear seatbelts, Ms. St. James advises that
children 12-years-old and younger should sit in the rear seat. In addition,
infants weighing less than 20 pounds or less than one year of age should also
be placed in a certified, rear-facing child safety seat. Children up to four
years of age should be placed in certified child safety seats. Drivers should
avoid relying upon air bags alone to protect vehicle occupants.
* Leave yourself an escape route so that you may steer clear of
collisions. At speeds above 25 mph, steering is preferred to stopping because
less distance is required to drive around an obstacle than to brake to avoid a
collision. A good rule of thumb is to look and plan where you want to go and
steer the vehicle in the desired direction.
Year Round Vehicle Maintenance:
Ms. St. James notes that motorists can be safer drivers when their
vehicles are properly equipped and in good working order. In most states, it
is illegal to operate any vehicle that may be a hazard to any person or
property. Important vehicle safety devices, such as air bags and anti-lock
brakes, should not replace safe driving habits and common sense behavior.
Check Your vehicle before any trip to make sure it is in good driving
"safety" condition, including:
* exhaust system
* heater & defroster
* tires (incl. spare)
* wiper blades
* braking system
* cooling system
* windshield washer fluid
* head & tail lights
* turn signals
* brake & hazard lights
* fog lamps
* battery & ignition systems
* two-thirds or more of fuel
* jumper cables
* antifreeze & coolant level
* ice scraper
* cellular phone (optional)
* Purchase an emergency kit for your car. A basic kit includes a large
screwdriver, white rag and a flashlight, You can easily add to the basic kit
by including a first aid kit, blanket, non-perishable food and other survival
equipment, such as tools, batteries, matches, candle and flares or reflective
device, in case you become stranded. In winter, include: a shovel, tire
chains, ice scraper, sand or salt, booster cables and paper towels.
* Inflate all tires to the recommended pressure and make sure each has a
minimum of an 1/8 of an inch of tread intact. According to Ms. St. James,
statistics indicate that at least one of every four tires (one in every
vehicle) is under-inflated.
Understand the Importance and Proper Use of Anti-lock Brakes:
Ms. St. James recommends use of anti-lock braking systems in her families'
vehicles and notes that ABS offer important year round safety advantages over
conventional braking systems by preventing the wheels from locking during hard
braking situations and helping drivers to be able to steer and maintain
control over their vehicles. In the U.S. today more than 40 million vehicles
and more than half of all new cars are equipped with ABS.
ABS rapidly and automatically "pump" the brakes up to 18 times per second
during maximum braking. ABS uses sophisticated sensors to detect impending
wheel lock-ups and automatically starts "pumping" the brake at that wheel.
This helps retain traction and frees the driver to focus on steering.
* Keep your foot on the brake. With ABS brakes, apply and hold firm
pedal pressure to the brake pedal and continue to steer. Avoid pumping the
brakes, even if the brake pedal is pulsating. Drivers should expect vibration
from the foot pedal and some noise as the signal that the ABS system is
working properly.
* Know the difference between four-wheel and rear-wheel ABS. One rule of
thumb is that four-wheel ABS is generally found on passenger cars and sport
utility vehicles and that rear-wheel ABS is found exclusively on light trucks.
Rear-wheel ABS provides an anti-skid feature on the rear wheels only. In
inclement weather, it improves vehicle stability when stopping in a straight
line but does not provide the steering capabilities of the vehicle as in a
four-wheel ABS system.
* Don't forget to steer. This is of critical importance. Four-wheel ABS
enables drivers to steer in emergency situations, but the system itself does
not steer for the driver. Practicing proper steering techniques while using
ABS is very helpful. Remember, you typically steer in the same direction you
are looking during an emergency braking situation, so look for your escape
route and steer accordingly.
* Practice driving with ABS. Become accustomed to pulsations that occur
in the brake pedal when ABS is activated. Empty parking lots or other open
areas are excellent places to practice emergency stops.
* Drive smart. Ms. St. James notes that although anti-lock brakes can
often help the driver stop a vehicle more quickly than conventional, the
systems cannot compensate for aggressive driving, following too closely or
driving too fast for conditions. The main purpose of ABS is to retain
traction and maintain steering control.
* Know the difference between ABS and conventional brakes. You can tell
if a vehicle is equipped with ABS because an ABS indicator light will
illuminate when the ignition is turned on. When driving a vehicle with
conventional brakes, drivers should pump the brakes to prevent the wheels from
locking up and throwing the vehicle out of control. Ms. St. James notes that
drivers should always consult the automobile's owners manual for more
information on the braking system in that particular vehicle and for more
driving instructions.
Winter/Inclement Weather Driving:
Ms. St. James notes that special care must be taken when driving in bad
weather, for example with fog, rain, high winds and winter driving conditions.
She points out that the most difficult driving season is winter, because of
ice, snow, lower temperatures and fewer daytime hours.
* Check road conditions before traveling.
* Go slow on wet or icy roads. It can take up to ten times farther to
stop on a wet road than a dry one. Roads become slick and dangerous after a
rainfall and especially early in the winter season. Remember that bridges and
exit and entrance ramps can be icy when other areas are not.
* Always allow enough time for your trips. Allow for increased travel
times if you encounter storm conditions or icy roads. Trips to the mountains
or through steep terrain can take longer during the winter season than at
other times of the year. Remember -- Always keep your gas tank two-thirds
full.
* Use snow tires and/or chains (where allowed). Snow tires give you
extra traction, and chains increase safety on snow or ice-packed roads.
Neither tires nor chains allow you to drive on bad roads at normal speeds.
* Include a bag of sand or some other abrasive in your vehicle to use for
traction in case you are stuck (i.e., kitty litter, rock salt or burlap bags).
* Drive slowly through water, snow or slush. Don't speed up when driving
through standing water as this may cause tires to lose contact with the road
and hydroplane. If this occurs, hold the steering wheel steady and lightly
apply the brakes. Slow down until your wheels regain contact with the road.
* Get help quickly. Open your hood and turn on your hazard lights. Place
a "Call Police" sign in your rear window.
Before your next trip, inquire about ABS safety measures on the Internet
at http://www.ittautomotive.com/drivesafer or visit Ms. St. James' site at
http://www.lifetimetv.com/sports/LynStJames.
For a free "Drive Safer America!" brochure or free ABS instructional
video, consumers can call 800-694-5200. To learn more about "Drive Safer
America!" and accident avoidance safety measures, consumers can access the
Internet site located at: http://www.ittautomotive.com/drivesafer.
SOURCE ITT Automotive
