2008 Woodie Awards
Point Counterpoint: Tire chains could promote safety on ripped up roads
Devlin Fleury and Matt Monroe
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: Opinion
Devlin Fleury
Tire chains are necessary with Iowa winter
A common myth is that drivers in Iowa are not allowed to have snow chains on their vehicles but in fact they are. On page 45 of the Drivers Manual of Iowa, it states that snow chains are not only legal but also advised during harsh winter conditions.
So, the question is, "Why do we not see people using snow chains with the hazardous weather we have in Iowa?"
I believe that people need snow chains due to the roads conditions this year. Many people panic and forget how to drive properly in the snow. There are many fender benders, cars losing control and major accidents every day. The Cedar Rapids Police Department reported an estimated 2,500 accidents from Dec. 1, 2007, to Feb. 29, 2008, due to the road conditions caused by weather.
If you do not have the proper tires or your car geared for winter weather this can make the situation worse. Not only do I think people with low traction on their cars need snow chains but people with little experience driving in the snow should have them as well.
Snow chains could be an added plus for safety on the roads during the winter. They help your car maintain control and grip on icy roads, help with better overall traction in bad weather and make drivers feel safer when road conditions worsen with accumulating snow.
In some states, snow chains are required and you could be pulled over and ticketed for not having them on your vehicle. Snow chains should not only be more openly advised in Iowa but should be an enforceable law.
Matt Monroe
Tire chains create more problems than they help
I recently had a conversation with my family about the wonderful winter weather. I complained about the snow, the ice, the wind and even the missed school days. My mother just laughed and informed me that this is a "typical" Iowa winter. She told me of a time where the tiniest amount of snow and ice shut down the highways and the only way to travel was to install tire chains on your vehicle. I thought about all the ditched cars along the interstate on my way to school that morning and wondered why none of those drivers used tire chains. Think about it, tire chains add a significant amount of traction and control to the vehicle traveling on snow and ice. In fact, it's required in many mountain states where the snowfall is enormous. It's even recommended by Iowa's DMV for travel in our tundra like weather. So why is it that most cars don't use tire chains?
The answer may be because they cause more headaches than what they're worth. Not only are tire chains pricey but they are a pain to install and remove from a vehicle. Also, driving with chains is comparable to driving on railroad tracks. The biggest reason not to use tire chains is because of the grooves they leave in the road. If more people used tire chains, the pothole problem in Cedar Rapids would be even worse. Lets be realistic-there is no need to hassle with tire chains.
We already have an effective snow and ice removal system in our state. If the roads are so terrible that one must strap on chains to safely travel, why not just stay home?
Tire chains are necessary with Iowa winter
A common myth is that drivers in Iowa are not allowed to have snow chains on their vehicles but in fact they are. On page 45 of the Drivers Manual of Iowa, it states that snow chains are not only legal but also advised during harsh winter conditions.
So, the question is, "Why do we not see people using snow chains with the hazardous weather we have in Iowa?"
I believe that people need snow chains due to the roads conditions this year. Many people panic and forget how to drive properly in the snow. There are many fender benders, cars losing control and major accidents every day. The Cedar Rapids Police Department reported an estimated 2,500 accidents from Dec. 1, 2007, to Feb. 29, 2008, due to the road conditions caused by weather.
If you do not have the proper tires or your car geared for winter weather this can make the situation worse. Not only do I think people with low traction on their cars need snow chains but people with little experience driving in the snow should have them as well.
Snow chains could be an added plus for safety on the roads during the winter. They help your car maintain control and grip on icy roads, help with better overall traction in bad weather and make drivers feel safer when road conditions worsen with accumulating snow.
In some states, snow chains are required and you could be pulled over and ticketed for not having them on your vehicle. Snow chains should not only be more openly advised in Iowa but should be an enforceable law.
Matt Monroe
Tire chains create more problems than they help
I recently had a conversation with my family about the wonderful winter weather. I complained about the snow, the ice, the wind and even the missed school days. My mother just laughed and informed me that this is a "typical" Iowa winter. She told me of a time where the tiniest amount of snow and ice shut down the highways and the only way to travel was to install tire chains on your vehicle. I thought about all the ditched cars along the interstate on my way to school that morning and wondered why none of those drivers used tire chains. Think about it, tire chains add a significant amount of traction and control to the vehicle traveling on snow and ice. In fact, it's required in many mountain states where the snowfall is enormous. It's even recommended by Iowa's DMV for travel in our tundra like weather. So why is it that most cars don't use tire chains?
The answer may be because they cause more headaches than what they're worth. Not only are tire chains pricey but they are a pain to install and remove from a vehicle. Also, driving with chains is comparable to driving on railroad tracks. The biggest reason not to use tire chains is because of the grooves they leave in the road. If more people used tire chains, the pothole problem in Cedar Rapids would be even worse. Lets be realistic-there is no need to hassle with tire chains.
We already have an effective snow and ice removal system in our state. If the roads are so terrible that one must strap on chains to safely travel, why not just stay home?
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