Safer Driving Skills

By Daniel Souza

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO– With over one hundred days left before the official start of the summer season, it’s never too late to learn or brush up on safer driving skills.

I understand that Utah’s four-season weather rotates faster than you can say “Utah’s four-season weather,” but I also presume, assume and anticipate that more snow may just be headed our way. In either case, the lessons learned in the home of the Rockies can be used to in either snow or wet conditions.

Sponsored by Toyota and Bridgestone, a handful of journalists had their skills tried at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School, nested near the famous touristy Steamboat Springs, CO, just 156 miles west of Denver.

The conditions set for our lessons couldn’t be better: below freezing temperatures, terrible visibility during a heavy snow-dumping day with an ice track previously coated with over 250,000 gallons of water. Lessons were learned and no accidents took place. But unlike what some thought, driving at higher speeds did not resemble an advanced skill level behind the wheel.

“The number one rule is to adjust your speed,” said Morgan Kavanaugh, lead instructor at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School.

Kavanaugh, who used to race motorcycles before joining the driving school, stressed upon techniques that most drivers just simply forget to practice.

“People need to remember to separate their inputs: brakes, steer, accelerate, all separate, but working together in a nice, controlled flow,” said Kavanaugh.

In everyday driving situations, cars with both ABS (Anti Lock Brakes) and traditional braking systems are basically identical. In an emergency stopping situation, two distinctly different techniques are required.

With traditional brakes, the cadence, or pumping technique, is effective, but the driver must lift off of the brake if steering is required to avoid an obstacle. The beauty of ABS is that pressing the brake pedal as hard as possible and holding it there allows the computer to pump the brakes while still maintaining some steering effectiveness.

Keep in mind that ABS can’t perform miracles: if the driver feels ABS engaging often during everyday driving, then the rule is to slow down, because the vehicle is exceeding the reasonable speed for the conditions.

All of the drivers taking the course had a chance to try either the Toyota 4Runner or the Toyota Camry. The 4Runner presented an advantage: four-wheel drive capabilities. On the other hand, the Camry on our fleet was fitted only with a front-wheel drive option.

It’s obvious a four-wheel drive system sports advantages, but the rules taught at the school apply to any type of vehicle.

When roads are slippery, drivers must use the entire grip (traction) available for one action at a time. Braking is to be done only in a straight line prior to the curve when the car is traveling straight. Taking the foot off the brake before steering into the curve allows the driver of any vehicle to use the entire grip available just for steering.

Remember that the driver can accelerate only when he or she is able to straighten the steering wheel at the exit of the turn. According to the instructors at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School, this technique will allow effectiveness of 100% at each maneuver- braking, steering and acceleration.

And though winter may not be as heavy as some past years in Utah, Kavanaugh alerts that the safety tips apply just as well while driving on wet pavement.

“A good driver reacts. A great driver anticipates,” said Kavanaugh.

Daniel Souza can be reached at sixth.gear.herald@gmail.com or visit his blog at http://sixthgearherald.blogspot.com