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Pge 18, Whitby Free Press, Wedfesday, August 24,199D4 e.' ,.~ A utofest. THE MOTOÎR CITY Car Club is hosting a huge car show at General Motors' custom, vintage, street rod and pro-street cars from ail over Ontario at the headquarters in Oshawa Sunday to celebrate its 35th birthday. There will show, which is open to ail pre-1 974 vehicles. he more than 40 commercial displays and the club expects more than 500 Photo by Mark Reesor, Whltby.Free Press 14 -, Sales Manager's luPi 7euh'àdii±ýL 2 DOOR COUPES 4 DOOR SEDANS Now Sale *k Priced II7 From $l jw Now Sale Priced From $11,2901* LOADED V6, Auto, Air,~ 7I Ail Luxury Options Now Sale* Pricedl From $ Ask abotit our Ver> Speclal Raies on 24£& 36 month leases C rasn IClassics: Photo radar FROM PAGE 12 They're the ones that drive 80 or 90 kilometres per hour in the middle of left-hand lanes, oblivious te, the fact that if they were in the right-hand lane like theyre supposed te lie, other drivers wouldn't behave in such a manner. Fin not condoning the light-flashers and tailgaters - there's no place for that either - but I can understand their frustration. The number-one rule of the road should be that if a car passes you on the right, you are in the wrong lane. One person ignoing this rule is ail it takes te make a highway dangerous. If cops would start claniping down on people who see vehicles going by the passenger doors, we'd see a reduction in accidents that photo radar couldn't corne close te producing. The only way I can see photo radar miaking a dent in 'accident numbers is if the governument takes the huge antount of money RANDY McLEAN IS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER WHO SPECIALIZES IN TRAFFIC SAFETY. Wr. cl-ean has reviewed thousands of individuai motor vehicle accident reports and his close working relationships with police agencies, goverrnefts, safely associations, industry and the public, have given hlm a, true overview of traffic safety issues, problemns and solutions In Canada. REMEMBER WIIAT HÀPPENS TO LEMMINGS Making a left turn at an intersection is a very common driving manoeuvre. It la such a cornmon event that we often forget how potentially dangerous it can lie. While completing this manoeuvre, we turn our car broadside across the path of one or more lanes of oncoming traffic. Other than the roof of our car, the aides are the moat vuinerable part of the vehicle. The front and rear ends both have energy absorbing crushable material to protect us in a collision. By comparison, the door frame offers relatively littie protection in side impact accidents. Oncoming- vehicles weighing several thousand pounds and travelling at or possibly above the posted speed limit toward our exposed weak aide are an obvious danger te us and our passengers. But we are not the only ones at risk. Pedestrians are often the innocent victims of poorly executed left turn manoeuvres. Consider the following, not so uncommon, situation. You see a short gap in the opposing traffic flow and start te, make a left turn only te find your way blocked by a pedestrian crossing the road. You are also aware than an oncoming vehicle la approaching quickly. it's going te, ralce in, and spenda it on the things that will make our roads safe. Pour money into botter driving training, better driving tests (my friend's recent test took place over a total of five blocks), crackdowns on the above-mentioned infractions, education programa, improved highways, and cops doing more than babysitting cameras. Will it happen? Probably not. And that's why, from tliis driver's ,eat, photo radar stinks. Choice 1: -Tee frightened te stand stili, you accelerate out of the path of the approaching vehicle and hope the pedeatrian can get out of your way in time. Choice 2: Tee frightened te meve, you allow the predestrian te cross and hopete approachng vehicle can stop in time. There ia no good choice, for you or the pedestrian. In choice 1, you risk deliberately hitting the pedestrian. In choice 2, if the approaching vehicle strikes your car, you will alide or apin uncontrollably through the intersection. Pedestrians in the crosswalk and even some standing on the stdewalk have been struck and injured or killed by secondary impacts from eut of control vehicles. Either way, both you- and the pedestrian may lose. A simnilar situation occurs when one motorist tries te, take advantage of a very short gap in opposing traffic by tailgating another vehicle through a left turn manoeuvre. If the firat vehicle cornes te an abrupt halt -- te allow a pedestrian te cross, look for a parking space, read a street name sign, or any other reason -- the second vehicle will be left stranded in the intersection, with its broadside exposed, its forward advance blocked and oncoming traffie approaching quickly. He or she may feel like a lemming that has just stepped over the edge of a ciff. Most of these accidents occur either because we did net pay enough attention or only paid attention te anme aspects- of the turning manoeuvre. Intersections are complex environments. Before turning left,- check the traffic- signal indication, look for gapa in opposing traffic, watch for turning vehicles, bicycles, pedestrains and anything else that might obstrut your turn. The golden ruie in making a.safe left turn ia neyer begin te turn until youre certain that the entire manoeuvre can be completed without stopping. Don't rely on a pedestrian te, speed up or another moteriat te slow down for your* ewn safety. You may be lucky, but then again -- you may net. Drive safely! with RANDY k r Paç NISSAN . . - . . ý -. - ^A 4 É%É% À -V