Smart Motorist

Though there is usually less traffic during nighttime hours, nearly half of all fatal traffic collisions in Minnesota occur after dark. This is because most drivers are not aware of the dramatic difference that darkness can make in their ability to cope with even the most normal driving situations.

Avoid driving during snowstorms and blizzards unless there is no way to avoid doing so. When it does become necessary, remember that you will not be able to see the road ahead as clearly as you would under normal conditions. Therefore, it is very important to drive more slowly and be prepared to stop suddenly. You should be able to stop within the distance lit up by your headlights.

Winter driving involves some dangerous situations that only occur at this time of year. The hours of darkness increase while daylight hours decrease. Together with fog, rain, snow, sleet, and ice, this problem greatly increases the dangers of driving in the winter months.

Make sure the tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions. However, some jurisdictions require that to drive on their roads, vehicles must be equipped with chains or snow tires with studs.

Extremely cold temperatures can take your car hostage, according to the AAA. Winter's frigid grip can drain the power from your battery, freeze the fluids in your engine, freeze your gas line and gel your engine oil.

To become familiar with a vehicle's winter-weather operating characteristics, AAA recommends motorists carefully practice slow-speed maneuvers on an empty snow- or ice-covered parking lot. Read carefully your vehicle owner's manual for information on its equipment and handling characteristics.

Ensure that your windshield washer reservoir is filled with no-freeze windshield solvent. Don't fill with plain water, as it will freeze and render your windshield washers useless.

Do not leave the car to search for assistance unless help is visible within 100 yards. You may become disoriented and lost in blowing and drifting snow.

While sport utility vehicles perform well in many difficult driving conditions, drivers of these popular vehicles still need to exercise caution to help ensure safe winter driving, according to AAA.

Smart Motorist is dedicated to raising driving standards by increasing the skill and competence of all drivers. Driving safely on today's roads demands more skill and better judgment than ever before, especially under hostile weather conditions.

Hydroplaning (called aquaplaning in Europe and Asia) occurs when water on the roadway accumulates in front of your vehicle's tires faster that the weight of your vehicle can push it out of the way. The water pressure can cause your car to rise up and slide on top of a thin layer of water between your tires and the road.

Thanks to rapidly evolving car-navigation technology, the automobile is turning into a high-tech information terminal on wheels. You can not only map out your route electronically and get traffic updates but also make restaurant reservations and, soon, access the Internet from your car.

The introduction of new technology continues to broaden opportunities for people with disabilities to drive vehicles with adaptive devices. Taking advantage of these opportunities, however, can be time consuming and, sometimes, frustrating. 

Bicycling is one of the most popular recreational activities in the United States, indeed, in the world. There are over 90,000,000 cyclists in the U. S. and over 30,000,000 adult cyclists. In any given year we can expect 800 - 1000 cyclists to die on our roadways while some 500,000 will be treated for injuries. In fact, the first automobile accident in the United States occurred when a motor vehicle crashed into a pedalcycle rider in New York City in 1896!