Statistics quoted by the Allstate Motor Club say that superhighways have only half the collision rate of conventional roads. But don’t let that make you over-confident as you drive the freeways in Utah and elsewhere. Accidents can and do happen ; people still get killed on the superroads ; emergencies can loom suddenly when you least expect them. Safe driving on the freeways is not sheer luck. It requires common sense and advance thinking. The motor club and other sources offer some suggestions that can help: – The hazard of entering a freeway can be neutralized if you gradually increase vehicle speed on the entrance ramp so you will be moving with the traffic flow by the time your car leaves the ramp, making merging easy. – Drivers invite hazards by not leaving themselves enough time to react to roadway obstacles. The National Safety Council says following too closely is the major cause of freeway accidents and Wull Street Bust The New York Stock Exchange has fined and suspended two of its members and censured a third for allegedly running a bookmaking operation right on the floor of the exchange. The “big board” claims the three were handling a voliune of $2,000 to $7,000 a week among fellow investors, brokers and clerks in wagers on horse races and other sporting events. One of the three, it says, had been making book on football games for the past 129 seasons. In annoimcing the sanctions, the NYSE stated that such enterprises are “detrimental to the interest and welfare of the exchange.” Which will strike many people, who may or may not have dropped a bundle on Wall Street, as a prim and proper way of saying that in the midst of the gamb e known as the stock market, gambling is not 4.. rr. miaraean recommends that you allow added reaction time. – When you decide to change lanes, make sure there is no one to your side. Check your rearview and side mirrors and turn your head to make a quick visual check of the blind spot beside you. Then signal your turn and make the turn at the same speed, neither increasing nor reducing your driving speed. Surprises at 55 mph are neither necessary nor pleasant, . – Give yourself plenty of time to find the proper exit and get into the proper lane for exiting. If you should miss your exit, drive to the next one and backtrack on more conventional roads. Never back up to reach an exit you’ve missed. It could be a fatal mistake. – Alertness is one of the most important assets in safe freeway driving. If you’ve been driving more than two hours, chances are your reaction time has slowed. If you can’t pull off for a nap or refreshment try in-the-car exercises. – Try the followinglr to stimulate circulation and ow off sluggishness or drowsiness: Wiggle your toes and flex leg muscles. Ease stiffness and tension in your hands and arms by gripping the steering wheel, then relaxing. Change your eye focus frequently. Tip your head from side to side without taking your eyes off the road. Take breaths, then exhale and let your shoulders drop heavily and slump into the seat. Simple exercises like these can keep you alert – and alive. As the motor club concludes: If you drive defensively and anticipate problems the freeways will continue to be a reasonably fast and safe way of moving vehicles and people. So They Soy “I’ve been censored all my i life…if I’m not being censored, I ‘ figure my work couldn’t be very f interesting…” ; -Joan Baez, folk guitarist and sinner.