Getting stuck behind a service fomite like a fire motortruck , schoolhouse bus , or ambulance can give you clip to imagine . ( If it ’s a school double-decker , it can also give you time to make faces at the kid , or excogitate the deprivation of artlessness as a 9 - year - old gives you the finger . ) If you have a car that sits low enough to the ground , you might be able-bodied to catch a glimpse of chains hang from underneath the hand truck . Why are they there ?
Unlike many of animation ’s unsatisfying explanations for whodunit , thereasonbehind them is really pretty keen . They ’re stealth snow chains .
cognize as reflex tire chains and sometimes referred to by steel names like Onspot or Insta - Chain , these chain basically hang listlessly from the vehicle ’s abatement until inclement weather condition arrive . When that happens , a driver can tack a shift that will lower the chains so they hang in front of the back tire . The system take in the chains whirl in front of the wheel . When the tires go around , theycatchthe chains , greatly meliorate traction on icy or slick roads . you could see how they deploy and work in the video above .

The automatic strand equipment are typically seen on vehicle that involve to be able to confront and cope with varying route atmospheric condition in a stock split second . ( It ’s not practical for a schooling jalopy or ambulance to stop so chains can be fitted on the tire . ) And while these types of vehicles are often heavy and moreeasilydriven in nose candy , the mountain range can assist when they need to drive uphill .
Now that you have it away , you could get back to taunting the youngster staring at you from the back of the bus . Or you may start to inquire why there are tiny black dots on your car ’s window . There ’s anexplanationfor that , too .