Political Advocacy

from KIT Magazine - Spring 2016

CLASSIFIEDS

RTAM Wellness Half-day Mini Seminar, January 22, 2016

Winter Driving Skills

Lydia Heshka, Wellness Committee Member

Winter in Manitoba is a reality. Winter driving is a challenge, which requires seven times the skill level of summer driving. The afternoon of January 22nd saw a boardroom full of retired teachers learning how to be better drivers. Winter Driving Skills, presented by Bill Ward, taught us numerous skills. We learned such things as, how to hold the steering wheel (8 pm and 4 pm, not 9 pm and 3 pm), that the car warms up more efficiently if it is in neutral, and that looking through the upper quarter of the windshield, allows the driver to see further ahead, and plan/act accordingly.

In addition, we were each given “The Extreme Weather Conditions Driving Manual,” which provided much more information. There was emphasis on the importance of snow tires. We learned that a car’s footprint, the surface area touching the road when we hit snow, slush or black ice, is smaller than a shoe footprint! Check for both the snow and mountain symbols, and be sure that all tires are the same brand. To quote from Bill’s manual: • The winter tire must be mounted on all wheel positions. • It must be the same tread pattern, model and make in all locations. This is necessary so that the handling characteristics of the vehicle remain the same as in the summer.

One unfortunate fact that we learned is that we needn’t worry about self-driven cars in Manitoba, because the technology requires clean, clear white lines on the roads! Not in Manitoba. Not during winter! ¡