Member Feedback

One one-thousand, two one-thousand...

I took special notice of one sentence in the President’s Message in the November/December 2011 edition (“Move over and no one gets injured,” page 6). “People will zip over as they approach the cones that I’ve placed on the road, and the cars right behind them don’t see my truck or the cones.” This is the result of many people traveling too close to the car in front of them! Surely the law states something that one is supposed to have at least a two second (if not more) gap between themselves and the car in front.
—C. van Zyl, Aurora

Editor’s note: According to Colorado state statute 42-4-1008, drivers “shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent.” AAA suggests a three- to four-second rule; pick a fixed point—road sign, light post, mile marker—and as soon as the rear of the vehicle ahead of your passes the checkpoint, start counting, "One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand," etc.

Low-profile tires

Nearly all the new cars hitting the sales lots these days come with low-profile tires. I have heard many people complain that these tires wear out rapidly, cause a rough ride, frequently lead to rim damage, and blow out.

Also, how can we encourage car manufacturers to create a storage well large enough to hold a full-size spare? Recently my husband drove more than 200 miles on a donut tire. Worse yet, the highway had a minimum speed limit that exceeded the recommended speed for the donut spare.
—S. Rebeck, Colorado Springs

Editor’s note: The low-profile tires you see on the road can be a safer choice for some drivers, depending on their vehicle, their driving habits, and the composition of the tire. As for donut tires, manufacturers face a dilemma. Car buyers want smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, which means shrinking the trunk and the size of emergency tires.

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