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Whitby Fiee Presa, Wedneeday, Februay 15, 1995, Page 21 Motorists more satis^fied with vehicles in '94 Motoriets were more satisfied with their vehicles in 1994 than in previous years, according to a survey of 269192 motorists conducted by the Canadian Automobile Assocation (CAA). This confirms a trend noted in recent year. In 1994, 76 per cent of motoeists said OUT 0F CONTROL AT 10 K3mIB (OR LEM!) When we hear about accidents involving drivers losing centrol of their cars, we usually think about high speeds, sap corners, unfaxiliar environments and intense concentration. While this is occasiona]ly the case, it is far more cemmon for motorists te lose control at speeds less than 10 kfiometres per heur, on fiat surfaces, in familiar areas anad- as in many accidents - driver inattention is a factor. How can anyone lest control of their car at less than 10 ilometres par heur, you ask? Easy. They start te back Up. In truth, not ail of these drivers actually lose ycontrol of their car. Some neyer really had control i the first place. Oiw lack -of control when in reverse gear is net surprising. Cempared te the amount of time we spend driving forward, meet of us have very little» experience driving backwards. Unfortunately, very few drivers take time te practice backing up. Ironically, we tend te practice those sills we a they were 'very sati*sfied" with their vehicles. Although this is down by one tenth of g percentage from 1993, the number of '"moderately satisfied" inotorista rose by 0.5 already do well, and avoid practicing those skills we are not se, good at, when we should be doing exactly the reverse (ne pun intended). The resuits speak for themselves, dented fenders, scraped bunipers, broken murrors and sometimes irjured pedestrians or bicyclists. There are two very simple, easy-to-follew rules for safe backing: look where you are going, and go where y ou are looking. Simple? Yes. Easy te follow? Yes, with practice.> Looking where you are going starts even, before you'get into your tar. As you approach your car, check the ground around it for potholes, tqys, sleeping dega, or other abjects. ome comp~anues requiWre their drivers te walk completely' around their vehicles before opening the door. Net many motorists will make this effort., bup it is a good idea. Yen should aise check tyel claace distace te adjacent vehicles, pillars, posts' and walls. Once inside your car, but before you start te move, look te see if anyone or anything is approaching. Cars backing up seldoni, if ever, have the right of way. It is your responsibility te yield te other vehicles and pedestrians. When *you start te move, look where yeu are going, then go where you are looking. If you are in tight quarters and want te, check your front end swing, stop your car. Do net drive backward while looking forward. Backing accidents are usually relatively minor, but even miner accidents can be surprisingly expensive. And if a pedestrian or bicycliet is involved, serieus persenal injuries can occur. .Look for opportunities te practice backing Up. Your dniveway or an empty parking lot are reasonably safe places. You should be -able te mark a lUne on the pavement, back up along that line and bring your wheels te a stop at a predetermined point. Next time yen ge shopping, make an effort te back inte a parking space, rather than drivingin. Safe backing requires practioe. Don't find yeurself eut of control at less than 10 kilometres per heur. Drive safely.. per cent and the number of disautisfier' motoristia ais feU by 0.4 per cent in that same period of tire. Over the longer terin, "veiy satisfied" motoriats rose from 73 per cent in 1989 te 76 per cent in 1994, and "dissatisfied! motorists decreased from 6.2 per cent and 2.6 per cent. Although satisfaction with North American marques is stii below satisfaction with Asian and European branda, the gap continues te, narrw. Toyota owners are more satisfied (87.7 per ceit veiy satisfied),- followed by Honda owners (86.5 per cent) and Nissan owners (84.1 per cent). The survey ahse reveals that three cempanies have seen steady increse in satisfaction over the past few years: satisfaction among C ryae wners ha risen by eight per cent since 1989, while it lias risen by 6.6 per cent among Nissan owners. Satsfcton amnong Hyundai owners bas risen by nine per cent hrm a 1990 low of 56.2 per cent. THE AUTO SHOW SALE STARTS TODAVI! 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