PAGE 22, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2,1987 Motorists should be prepared for winter driving If your car started to slip along an icy road, could you regain control? Skids are one of the many hazards of winter driving. Stalling, getting stuck in snow drifts and a host of other hazards make winter- driving demanding and possibly dangerous. Properly prepared drivers wear light, non-constricting clothing and carry a warm coat or blanket in the vehicle in case of a breakdown. Every winter motorists freeze to death in their car while within city limits. In addition to warm clothing, motorists should carry a basic winter survival kit in their trunk, again in case of a breakdown. A scraper, brush and shovel will aid in snow removal; booster cables are useful in case of a stall; sand, salt, kitty litter or traction pads will provide traction to a stuck vehicle; extra fuses, radiator hoses, fan belts and windshield washer antifreeze can make all the difference when a garage is not nearby. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications recommends motorists also include a first aid kit, flashlight and flares, blankets, non-perishable foods, candles and an emergency supply of prescription drugs, if necessary, in their winter survival kit. Motorists must mechanically prepare their vehicle for winter by having a thorough tune-up done. They should also equip their cars with snow tires, which provide the best traction, or radial ply tires. Once ready for the roads, motorists can further prepare themselves by taking a winter driving or skid control course. Craig Fischer, supervisor of PetroCan's skid control school, says: "We train 800 people a year, teaching them how to react in a skid and how to handle a car in various driving situations." "The first time we take them out, they usually lose control of the car. By the end of the course, they are much better able to handle potentially dangerous situations," Fischer added. Terry Thompson of the Ontario Safety League recommends motorists slow down when road conditions seem poor, cautioning: "As temperatures rise, water from melting ice pools on the ice underneath, making winter roads even more hazardous." Skid control courses can reduce the chances of being seriously injured in a car accident and, as Leo Macinnon, assistant vice president of property-casualty claim for Travelers Canada points out: "A trained, knowledgeable driver provides greater protection to both his passengers and other motorists on the road." The PetroCan skid school, located in Montreal and Oakville, offers a variety of courses for moderate fees. Additional information on winter driving courses is available from your provincial safety council or league. Take care with boosters Have you a pair of goggles with the booster or jumper cables in your car? For that matter, do you carry booster cables and if so can you rely on them when it comes to either needing a start or giving one to another motorist in need? What condition are they in? According to the Canadian Automboile Association in its booklet, "About your Car," there's a good deal more to know about jumper cables than just how to put them between two automobiles. What size? The recommended booster for four and six- cylinder engines is the six- gauge, 12 foot cable, but if it's an eight- cylinder gasoline or diesel engine, the four- gauge 12- foot cord is suggested. These are for severely cold conditions; something lighter may be fine in warmer climates. Is your Insurance1 What Kind? When buying them, the booldet recommends that you select fairly long ones so that vehicles can be stationed further apart. The booklet also states that the shorter the cable, the better the boosting power. On the other hand, it warns not to buy light, aluminum wire cables instead of copper, and suggests that the larger the wire the better the performance. Body part shop FROM PAGE 21 "We thiought if would be a good way to expand in the body business," he explains. "But two places 50 miles from each other was too much." Nevertheless, Rimmer still has plans to open another body parts store somewhere near his home. Protection the Best? Before you renew your Car Insurance, consider the following: 3pecial Distance Discount )river Training Discount /ulti Car Discount )ver 55 Discount J 965 DUNDAS ST., W. SUITE 200, WEST LYNDE PLAZA ETER Di LELLO 666-2090 Call D.I.S. and let us provide a complete range of Insurance Services. Auto * Home * Life * Disability * Group * Business M M Jaguar, being one of the Finest motor cars, needs a special service engineer. That's why owners of this fine automobile need our care and attention! An independent specialists for over 25 years on all European cars. sz A blend of Art & Machine. JAGUAR ALBERT MARCHAL MOTOR-CAR LTD. IMPORT & EXOTIC CAR SALES & SERVICE 1698 Bayly Street, Pickering 831-3060 De lie s'O INSURANCE BRO S LTD.