Winter Driving

Happy New Year! We begin 2012 for the most part with milder Winter driving conditions than we could have anticipated. But we know that Old Man Winter will tighten his icy grip before Spring arrives. As a professional driver, it is always your responsibility understand, plan for, and safely navigate winter driving conditions. Here are some reminders to help make it safer for you and those around you:

Make sure you are prepared for winter driving. Avoid driving while you’re fatigued. Getting the proper amount of rest before taking on winter weather tasks reduces driving risks. Be aware that many personal injuries are more prone to occur during the Winter months. Slip, trip and fall injuries are the most common types of injury for drivers. Each year, thousands of professional drivers are seriously injured due to not paying attention in winter conditions. Working in the ice and snow requires your full attention and awareness.

Always wear proper footwear. A full support leather shoe with a rugged non-slip sole. Use non-slip covers on your shoes or boots. Again, slow down. Never be in a hurry. Watch where you walk. Snow can accumulate on top of ice in and around truck parking areas. Take small steps and check your footing with each step. Look for ice on all handrails and hand grabs before using them.

Always use three points of contacts when exiting/entering your tractor or trailer or getting on the cat walk behind the cab. And, during Winter, it’s a great idea to wear gloves for better grip.

• Prepare for your trip. Pay attention to weather and road conditions. Listen to the weather channel on the radio and listen to other drivers that have previously been in the area. The FHWA’s web site at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/index.htm contains links to information on weather and road conditions. There are numerous other resources including travel web sites and 511. The more you know, the better prepared you are.
• Make sure that your truck is prepared for winter driving. Ensure your vehicle is in top operating condition. While it’s always a smart idea to conduct a thorough pre-trip inspection, severe winter conditions demand you take the extra time needed to make sure some equipment malfunction doesn’t leave you stranded.

Tires are the most important aspect of keeping your vehicle under control in snowy and icy conditions. Drive axle tires should have ample tread depth to provide the best control in winter conditions. The tread depth and condition of the steer axle tires is also vital in keeping the control of the steering. If you are operating in areas with chain laws make sure the chains are in good condition and ready to be installed if needed. Mirrors and all glass in the truck should be clean for maximum visibility.

• Buckle up and turn your lights on. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
• Be aware of bridges, overpasses, and infrequently traveled roads. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
• Drive gently. Driving too quickly is the main cause of winter accidents. Just because you are a large truck with a heavy load doesn’t mean that you’re invincible, be sure to drive slowly and carefully on snow and ice covered roads Once you begin your trip, do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (i.e. wet, ice, sand). Always look and steer where you want to go. And avoid, making any sudden stops or hard braking. That means increasing your following distance and driving more slowly.
• Don’t “pump” the brakes. If your truck is equipped with antilock brakes do not “pump” the brakes.
• Pay attention. Maneuvers are more difficult to make in the snow. Be sure to anticipate what your next move is going to be to give yourself a lot of room for turns and stopping.
• Don’t tailgate. While tailgating is a bad idea under normal driving conditions, it is much, much worse in winter weather. Stopping takes much longer on snowy and icy roads than on dry pavement. Be sure to leave a lot of room between your vehicle and the one in front of you. A good rule of thumb is to leave four vehicle lengths between you and the vehicle in front of you for every 10 mph you are driving.
• Brake before making turns. It is difficult to steer vehicles while applying the brakes in snowy conditions. So make sure to smoothly step on your truck’s brakes to reduce speed before entering turns. Once you have rounded the corner, you can accelerate again.
• Get to know your vehicle. It is always a good idea to be familiar with your vehicle’s driving dynamics. This is especially true when driving on snow or ice. Also, be aware of the weight condition of your truck. As your load and weight diminish the handling of the truck in snow and ice will change.

As a professional, you have the responsibility to maintain proper control of your vehicle at all times, no matter what the conditions are. If the weather and road conditions are too bad for you to continue, that means you must stop.

Remember it is our primary goal that you go home to your family and friends the way you came to work today, safe and healthy. That should be your goal too!