Page 16, Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, July 21, 1993 A few tips to reduce fuel costs, smog Canadians wanting te take environmentally friendly vacations -- and save money at the sanie time -- are opting te explore their own province this sumnmer. Shorter distance travel uses less fuel, which helps te curb smog and other air quality problems in a number of Canadian regin'ns and cities. The combustion of fossil fuels releases nitrogen oxides (NOx) that combine with volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence et sunlight te fôrrm ground-level ozone, a major component of smog. "Staying dloser te home and enJoying Canada's great out-of-doort, troni whale- watching in the Maritimes te mountain-bike trips in the Reckies, is easier on the pocketbook and the environment," says Wayne Draper, senior DURHAM officiai for Environinent Canada on the nationwide, multi-faceted N01/VOC reduction plan. The plan, an initiative of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environnent, aims to resolve ground-level -pzone problenis in Canada by the year 2005. If you take the car, Draper offers these tips for putting the brakes on smog and higher fuel costs: Il reduce air pollution and increase fuel economny by up te 10 per cent by tuning up your car betore you go away; e remove roof racks and put iuggage in the car te save up te 5 A r e ozeo heose wiII save IÂYÇwater whenyoul -hi -"-wash your car.1 Ontario A TRAFFIC REMINDER FOR MOTORISTS USING THE HARMONY ROAD EXIT IN OSHAWA FROM THE EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND LANES 0F HIGHWAY 401 Work will be commencing. on or about July 28, 1993 for 14 weeks, to widen Regional Road 22 f 810cr Street ) including the 401 overpass from Regional Road 33 (Harmony Road ) te Regional Road 56 C Farewell Street end the associated intersections, in the City of Oshawa. The work wili result in restricted traffic movements affecting westbound motorists at Harmony Road. This traffic v4ill be detoured via Harmony Road, Olive Avenue and Wilson Road. The Bloor Street / Hwy No. 401 ovorpass wiIl romain open for eastbound motorists at Farewell Street. Westbound Hwy No. 401 trafflo, normally exiting et Harmony Road for westbound Bloor Street, are advised te use the Ritson Road Exit for destinations on Bloor Street and Farewell Street. 1OOkmIh, fuel less is about 1 per cent for each kilometre per heur increase in speed; -*use air conditioners wisely -they can increase your fuel consumption by up te 12 per cent in stop-and-go traffic; per cent ef fuel by reducing aerodynamic drag; e every 45 kilograins et extra weight consumes 1 per cent more fuel, se pack only what yeu need; * watch your speed -- you are, after ail, on vacation. Akove The 3Rs I'm a big believer in the 3Rs. Net reading, 1riting and 'rithmetic, but reasonable, responsible and rational. I like te believe that moet people are responsible and act in a reasoned, rational mariner. This faith in human behavieur may itselt net ho rational, since I have been preven wrong se many tumes that most reasonable people weuld reach a different conclusion. Notwithstanding the evidence te the contrary, I continue te holieve in the 3Rs. Hewever, three separate incidents over the last few weeks have put the strength et my holiet te the test. Individually, these incidents may seem relatively common and unimportant but, considered together, the significance ofteach is evident. In the first incident, driver #1 is stepped in an intersection waiting te turn left. As a gap in the oncoming traffic approaches, driver #2 honks his hemn loud (get) and sharp (moving). Driver #1 immediately jumps inte the gap, oniy te slam on his brakes an instant later te aveid hitting two pedestrians in the crosswalk. Driver #2 sits sately in the saine spot formerly occupied by driver #1, probably smirking at hew bad a driver driver #1 's. a once you've reached your destination, escape the car's confinement, sharpen your senses and get the full experience ot your new locale -- explore the area on foot or rent bicycles te see the sights. The second incident is similar. Driver #1 is again stepped in an intersection waiting te turn left. Driver #2 i8 stepped behind driver #1. A large truck 15 stepped on the other side ef the intersection waiting te turn left in the opposite direction. The truck completely blocks driver #1's view ef approaching traffic. Driver #2 honks his hemn andc driver #1 almost immediately leaps acre the intersection. Luckily for driver #1, there was ne oncoming traffic. Lucky because ho had ne idea, whether anether vehicle was approaching in the inside lanes. Driver #2 again sits safely in the space where driver #1 was. The third incident is the key A strearn et vehicles is approaching a red light at an intersection on a divided highway with a raised centre median. A firetruck, at least a hait-mile behind, Iights flashing, siren blazing (ne pun intended) and hemn honking (the leudest hem I1 have ever heard) is aise approacIng the sanie signal. What happons you ask? The cars1111 up all three lanes between the raised median and right curb, leaving absolutely nowhere for the firetruck te go. Forced te come te a stop, the flretruck chooses the shortest et the four lanes and leans on his hemn as if he was going te a fire. What happons? Nobody meves. Nobody moues. Now, recali incidents - one and two. At the prompting et two impatient drivers, possibly late for their tavourite television - show, two other mietorists risked lite and 11mb, their own and others, te move eut et the way. Incident three, in response te a firetruck, perhaps on its way te save semeone's lite or limb, nobody noves. There are at least two lessens in these incidents. Most obvieus, when an emergency vehicle approaches, move te the right and stop eut et the way. Ensure there is a clear path tor it te continue witheut delay. Second, think for yourself. Make the left turn, or any other manoeuvre, when you think it's safe. Don't ]et the driver behind you take centrol et your vehicle. Act reasonably, responsibly and rationally yourself, even if ne one else seeros te ho. Drive safely. Nlght work within the Hwy. Ne. 401 corridor in conjunction with this contract, will roduce traffic, te one lino in oach direction and require the closure o! the eastbound and wostbound on ramps at this location. The Ministry and the Region requosts the co-operation o! the motorists whle improvement works are underway and regrets any inconvenionce this work may cause. Should there be any questions regarding this project, ploase contact the f ollowing betwoen the hours o! 8.30 AM - 4.30 PM Monday through Friday. Mr. M.S. 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