Q-You drive 45 to 50 miles per hour on a highway and just before crossing an intersection the green light changes to yellow. What do you do? Slam on the brakes and risk slipping, skidding or being rear-ended? Or slam on the gas and risk a ticket if a squad car is around? In Israel, the green light starts flashing for 5 to 10 seconds before turning yellow. Drivers have adequate warning, feel safer and are more relaxed. How come this simple, elementary safety device isn’t used here? A.K., Northbrook
A-You have to be kidding. Stand at any intersection in Chicago at any hour of the day or night and see how many cars proceed through on a yellow or red light. We’ve counted as many as five cabs run a red light conga-style. In Chicago, unlike most places, the yellow light stays on for one-millionth of a millisecond, so if a cop is nearby he can log an easy ticket. A simple rule of thumb in Chicago is if, at any time, the traffic light turns yellow or red and a cab is following you, never brake or stop. Instead floor the pedal and get out of the cabbie’s way.
Q-I agree that air bags are a wonderful safety item but wouldn’t you agree that anti-lock brakes are much more desirable than dual air bags? Since the steering wheel is the driver’s enemy, a driver-side air bag is a necessity, but the passenger doesn’t have an enemy in front of him. ABS may be used several times to avoid an accident, but how many times would a passenger-side air bag be deployed and prevent serious injury? R.E., Hoffman Estates
A-Hmm. The steering wheel is the driver’s enemy, so you agree that the driver needs an air bag. But what enemy does the passenger have? Have you ever tried to kiss a dashboard at 45 m.p.h.? It’s difficult removing grained vinyl from your teeth with a Water Pik. How about planting a big wet one on the windshield at 50 m.p.h.? Ever try spitting glass while wearing a body cast-if you are lucky enough not to be in a casket? Yes, you probably will use ABS dozens of times before you will use the air bag. But at 45 to 50 m.p.h. the bag need only work once to justify its existence.
A few years back General Motors promoted ABS over air bags, saying that you’ll use ABS many more times than air bags. What GM didn’t say, at the time, was that it was producing its own ABS system but having to buy air bags from outside suppliers. That means it could produce ABS at a low price and charge customers a high price and make lots of money, but it had to buy air bags at a high price and not make very much money. The next time the family gathers at the dinner table, look each member in the eye and try to convince yourself that in a 50-m.p.h. collision you’d rather have ABS than air bags.
Q-Since millions of people read your columns would you print the following? It would help: All cars, even new ones, are equipped with turn signals. These should be used to indicate right or left turns, lane changes and entry to or exit from the expressway. Many drivers don’t seem to know. H.N., Arlington Heights
A-We can rest better now that everyone knows about turn signals-except cab drivers, of course.
Q-If you don’t advise rustproofing, what do you recommend to treat a rust problem beginning to develop on an older car? E.N., Edina, Minn.
A-Drive it over to your local body shop and have the blemish repaired. One reason you probably have rust is that, as you say, it’s an older car-though you didn’t say how old. The last five years or so new cars have been using galvanized metals and zincometals and plastic coatings to prevent rust or keep it from occurring for many years.
Q-I read where the Big Three are getting together to standardize and minimize their electrical systems. I wonder why it has taken them so long to do something so logical. This is indicative of the Big Three’s problems-malignant thinking that doesn’t understand the market and produces V-8-6-4 engines while it maligns diesel engines. Companies then continue to reward such incompetence with obscene bonuses. R.C., Burr Ridge
A-It took them so long to get together because the government kept whispering antitrust whenever the Big Three would suggest that they and consumers would save money if the automakers jointly developed common sytems rather than three separate systems.
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Send your questions about cars and trucks to Jim Mateja, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611.
