Community Traffic Safety
Keep the Rubber to the Road
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As winter is upon us in the Pacific Northwest, often times this means wet roadways. Water on the road affects the ability to drive safely. Heavy rain or standing water can cause a vehicle to hydroplane and lose control. Hydroplaning happens when water on the road accumulates in front of a vehicle's tires faster than the weight of the vehicle can push it out of the way. The water then causes the vehicle to rise up on top of a layer of water between your tires and the road.
There are three factors in hydroplaning:
• Vehicle speed: As speed increases, traction on wet roadways is reduced. Reducing speed can minimize chances of hydroplaning significantly.
• Tire tread depth: As tires become worn, they lose traction and are not able to move as much water through the tread and away from the front of the tire as fast.
• Water depth: In deeper water a vehicle can lose traction even faster. Although even a thin layer of water can cause a loss of traction.
What should you do if you start to hydroplane? There are two absolute essentials to remember!
• Do not apply your brakes
• Do not turn your steering wheel
If you find yourself hydroplaning, do not brake or turn suddenly. This could throw your car into a skid. Hold the wheel firmly and steer straight ahead. Take your foot off the gas until the car slows. If you need to brake, do it gently with light pumping actions.
For more information visit ODOT – Transportation Safety Division's Winter Driving Tips and Information page at: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/winterdriving.shtml.
Tire Blowouts – Prevention and Actions
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The recent crash of the Child Safety Seat Resource Center bus has been largely attributed to a rear tire blowout. This incident has brought the issue of tire blowouts to the minds of ACTS Oregon staff and board. We would be remiss to not address this driving hazard in general terms for others.
The rapid deflation of a vehicle tire or "blowout" can be a common event, and many times a fatal one. It is nearly impossible to train for the occurrence and the actions of the driver immediately following the event could be the difference between a severe wreck and simply changing a tire.
Prevention
The easiest way to remain safe from a tire blowout is to prevent the occurrence. Monitoring proper tire inflation, tire wear, and routinely inspecting tires for damage is the best way to prevent blowouts. When checking tread on tires, if there is less than 1/16 of an inch of tread they are considered "bald" and should be replaced. Rotate tires every six months or 5,000 miles to keep normal wear and tear even. Don't overload the vehicle. Avoid road hazards which can damage tires - slow down to go over a pothole or objects on the road. Inspect tires regularly for cuts, slashes, or objects stuck in the tread or side of the tire.
Regardless of proactive measures, blowouts can still occur. Common causes include: tire puncture, hitting a curb, low tire pressure, normal wear out, and tire malfunction. It is best for all drivers to be prepared for the event and have the knowledge to prevent a tragic consequence.
Actions
The first sign of a blowout is a tremendous booming sound throughout the vehicle. This is a critical point for the driver. Try to avoid panic - don't overreact. The sound of a tire blowout can be scary but the dynamics of a vehicle will likely not cause a crash-- however, the actions of the driver could. Following a blowout, vehicles will pull toward the side of the deflated tire. If the driver reacts by jerking the steering wheel or braking too hard to compensate, the loss of control could be disastrous.
The proper action following a blowout is to slightly accelerate. This will keep the vehicle momentum constant and will compensate for the pulling of the vehicle towards the flat tire. The steering wheel should be held straight and firm. Once the vehicle is under control and away from traffic, the driver should decelerate or brake lightly to stop the vehicle.
These tips are from: Police Driving: Safety Behind the Wheel "Vehicle Tire Blowouts: Avoiding deadly consequences at: http://www.policeone.com/suspect-pursuit/articles/92723-Vehicle-Tire-Blowouts-Avoiding-deadly-consequences/
