Car Keys
by R. Craig 

Over the past few years I have talked about all kinds of car issues and car related topics but there is one subject  that  I have not  covered and that is roads. Kind of a boring subject?   Maybe so, but when you stop and think about it, we probably  take a good road for granted. This time of year is the worst because of all the potholes and in some cases craters. I have seen many cases where serious damage to tires, wheels, and suspension components were the result of hitting a large pothole not to mention knocking the wheel alignment out of specification. 

 The control you have over your vehicle is only as good as the traction you have between the tires and the road. So if you have a tricky road surface or bad tires, you have less control. In this age of SUVs in which most are four wheel drive, I think there is a common misconception to some people that you are invincible on any road. Guess again!  

 There is a definite advantage with four wheel drive for traction on slippery surfaces but that is usually to get you moving. On an icy surface an SUV  has no advantage when stopping or making sharp turns. In some cases the extra weight can be a disadvantage. If you do run off of the road at least the four wheel drive may get you out of the ditch. 

 I grew up living on a dirt road. In the summer time it was dusty. In the winter time it was icy. The sun didn't melt it like it does on blacktop roads. When spring time came it was muddy and rutted. 

 Then we have the back roads which in many cases are simply oil with a layer of crushed stone on top. Not bad to drive on after the stones settle in, but look out when the stones and oil are fresh. They can be hazardous if you go too fast, especially when they are wet. 

 There are some stretches of concrete roads in our area and once again, they are quite slippery when it rains. On the local main routes where the roads are smooth there is one thing to look out for. When the sun glares on the road on a hot summer day, the oil in the blacktop will sometimes leave a oily film on the roadway. It's not usually a problem until we get the usual afternoon thundershower. When the rain hits the oily surface it makes a very slippery condition. The road actually has better grip after the rain has washed the road film away. 

 When it comes to potholes, avoid them if you can without swerving sharply. Also try to avoid potholes that are full of water because they may be much deeper than you think. 

 As usual, I have a suggestion to eliminate all of the above problems. Remember the cartoon The Jetsons?  If we could come up cars like George Jetson drove, most of our problems would be solved! All except for the tax that New York State would put on our airspace!