February - March 2003 Edition

The Automotive Alphabet    By Traffic Todd   Happy New Year fellow drivers, I hope you are enjoying the actual winter we're having for a change. Nothing like a few real snowstorms to remind us that we actually do live in the Northeast. Of course with the snow comes ice as the white fluffy stuff melts during the day and then freezes at night making the early morning commute and night cruising that much more adventurous.    Just ask those pedestrian crossing signs on Fair Lawn Avenue by the Radburn Road intersection. The western one got smacked during the season's first real snow and icefall, and then the eastern one got mangled as well around the next storm. I don't know; how can anyone not miss those bright orange signs sitting in the middle of the road and avoid them?!?!? I mean come on, it's snowy and icy and those signs took up residence on the double yellow lines, so no one should have touched them - remember snow and ice means drive slowly and cautiously.   But of course if you have one of those heavily alphabetized vehicles with ABS, AWD, DSC, ESC, ESP (yes vehicles can now read your mind!), ECB, 4Matic, 4WD, VDC and VTD and of course regular boring named traction control to drive around in, why worry about the snow and ice? I mean these electronic gadgets and doodads were put in place to make driving that much more simpler and safer, right?? Well yes and no.   While Detroit, Munich and Tokyo have been packing their vehicles with more and more technology to control vehicle stability, braking and roll-overs, the average driver seems to forget that basic physics can't be turned off with an electronic brain. No matter how many stability and braking programs are onboard, ice and snow will continue to be slippery and will continue to force cars, mini vans and trucks to slide around and end up either into each other, a snow bank or those poor pedestrian crossing signs (may they be replaced soon!). No matter how much technology is onboard, nothing can take the place of good old common sense when driving around in winter weather.   I remember when I was in college in PA, during a heavy snow storm I was traveling down a steep, curvy mountain road, crawling along hoping to keep my little Dodge between the ditches. All of a sudden a big, jacked up 4WD Ford pickup comes barreling down the mountain, rides my rear end and then passes me. Well, off the guy went off like a bat out-of-you-know where down the mountain. Now at the bottom of this mountain, the road took a hard left curve avoiding the stream. Well this 4-wheel drive dope got a lesson in reality and found out the 4WD doesn't negate the real world. He ended up in the ditch, but out of the stream. Did I stop?  Nope, I was running late for class and he was trying to gun the truck out of the ditch - throwing snow, ice and dirt everywhere so he was ok and next to a gas station and restaurant.   So, take it slow and easy, we may not have treacherous mountain roads, but a wet road may actually be covered in black ice, which, unfortunately you won't know until you're spinning around and going who-knows-where - a ditch, well most likely your neighbor's yard. When making a turn, signal first then slow down and then take your turn; give the person behind you time to react as it he can't read your mind (remember, your car may have ESP, but the driver behind you doesn't!) and will need extra time to slow down and either stop or maneuver around you. Which brings us to the next item - if you're that driver in the rear, don't tailgate; actually give yourself extra trailing room in case the vehicle in front of you spins out; you don't want to join that party!   If the road is snow covered, don't assume your tires are getting good grip the entire trip. Previous tire tracks through plowed and unplowed roads are probably building up ice as the snow melts from the tire and plowing friction and starts to freeze up again. Remember, where there's snow, there's ice!   Well enjoy the New Year and stay out of the snowbanks and your neighbors' yards! Remember to Drive Alert, Drive Patiently and Drive Smartly.   Traffic Todd's Automotive Alphabet Game Can you match up the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and 4 Wheel Drive product names with the vehicle manufacturer? 1.  4Matic  2. VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control)  3. Command-Trac  4. Quadra -Drive  5. Rock-Trac  6. Versatrak  7. StabiliTrak  8. DSC-X (Dynamic Stability Control + AWD)  9. AST (All Season Traction) 10. VSC (Vehicle Skid Control) 11. AutoTrac A. Jeep/Liberty  B. BMW  C. Cadillac  D. Lexus  E. Pontiac  F. Subaru  G. Mercedes  H. BMW  I. GMC/Chevy Trucks  J. Jeep/Grand Cherokee  K. Jeep/Wrangler Click Here For Answer.      See Traffic Todd's Previous Columns Walking Safe (June 2002) Basic Driving  (April 2002)