| Salt Lake City |
 |
 |
| GER |
12 |
16 |
7 |
35 |
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| USA |
10 |
13 |
11 |
34 |
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| NOR |
11 |
7 |
6 |
24 |
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| CAN |
6 |
3 |
8 |
17 |
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| RUS |
6 |
6 |
4 |
16 |
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| AUT |
2 |
4 |
10 |
16 |
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| ITA |
4 |
4 |
4 |
12 |
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| FRA |
4 |
5 |
2 |
11 |
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| SUI |
3 |
2 |
6 |
11 |
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| NED |
3 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
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Motorists warned: Be cautious, go slow
By Jeff Oliver
Deseret News staff writer
Alongside celebrations of diversity during the 2002 Winter Games, Utah's police hope for a certain level of homogeny in at least one aspect of the international event: getting from here to there.
With the so many drivers, so many driving techniques and so many miles of potentially icy Utah asphalt, Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Doug McCleve says smooth Olympic traffic flow will largely be a matter of attitude.
"Your attitude translates into your driving habits," McCleve says. He hopes a sense of community and courtesy will prevail amid the rush of venue hoppers, many of them facing snow-covered roads for the first time.
McCleve says there is one technique that will save everyone — especially McCleve — a lot of trouble. "First and foremost, people just need to slow down," he says.
During February wet roads and black ice are nearly inevitable, even after plowing. McCleve says the best way to avoid accidents is simply letting up on the right foot.
Drivers need to be especially cautious on overpasses and off-ramps, says Nile Easton, spokesperson for the Utah Department of Transportation. Easton says "black ice" most often forms on anything with open air underneath it.
He says the ice, which is invisible to drivers, forms after a heavy fog and on cold evenings following warm winter days.
He says visitors need to adapt their driving to the conditions. Most often that means slowing down.
While local driving instructors have their own extensive list of tips for first-time winter drivers, Verl Shell, manager of A-1 Driving School, says all of those tips are rendered useless if the driver fails to slow down.
"Here's a helpful hint," says Shell. "Reduce speeds according to conditions."
Scott Kyle, instructor for Utah Driving Academy, says the only thing safer then driving slowly is not driving at all.
The simple principle of driving doctrine is so universally preached it's a wonder it hasn't been more widely accepted.
"People have a hard time learning that they don't have to go the speed limit," Easton says.
During a snowstorm, he says, drivers should view the posted speed-limit as a maximum instead of minimum.
Aside from dropping out of the interstate race, McCleve says Olympic drivers need to make sure their tires have a sturdy tread and that windshield wiper fluid is full.
Also, those attending events in Park City and Snowbasin should watch out for wildlife. He says moose and coyote tend to make appearances in the early morning or late evening.
Drivers who do have problems should be aware of the available road side services.
Dialing *11 will notify UDOT's Incident Management Team of any problem. The IMT deals mainly with minor mechanical problems and filling empty gas tanks, Easton says.
Drivers looking to plan their day around the weather can get updates by dialing 511.
McCleve also says troopers will be patrolling during the Games.
E-MAIL: joliver@desnews.com
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February 8, 2002
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