Winter Driving Tips

 

Nine Winter Driving Tips For Truckers

 

There are no secrets when it comes to winter driving. If the outside air temperature is at or below freezing, and there's snow falling on the road, winter is at it's most dangerous. A driver who chooses to zoom along at normal road speed when everyone else is crawling along at 15 to 20 MPH doesn't have the inside track on the winter roadways. There's a good chance you'll see him and his rig in the median a few miles up the road. 

 

The following nine tips will help you reduce the odds of an accident during this chilly season.

 

 

Tip #1 Get yourself ready.

 

Get your rest. Load up your rig with survival gear- cell phone and charger, blankets, water, ready to eat food, extra boots, gloves, socks, and matches. You should be dressed in layers to preserve body heat.  Remember- if you get stuck in the middle of nowhere during winter conditions, you will only have your self and your supplies to get you through a crisis.

 

Tip #2 Get your truck ready.

 

Make sure your tires have the grip to pull you through poor driving conditions. Make sure your defroster and wiper blades are ready to clear your windshield. Clean you head light and tail light lenses so others can see you in poor visibility conditions. Keep your fuel tanks as close to full as possible, and make sure your diesel fuel has an anti-gel additive. Take care of your engine and braking systems- failure in either can put your life at risk.

 

Tip #3 Keep an eye on the temperature.

 

Water freezes at 32 degrees. Roadways tend to be slightly warmer than the air temperature, but once air temperatures are down that low or lower, you need to be very wary.

 

Tip #4 Ice on your windshield means ice on the road.

 

Ice doesn't have to be packed up on the roadway to be dangerous. Thin sheets of ice formed just after sunset or just before sunrise can literally turn your world upside down.

 

Tip #5 Look for spray coming up from other vehicles.

 

If spray is coming off the tires, it's likely that the roads are wet (as opposed to ice covered), but keep in mind that a short stretch of road with ice on it can be just as dangerous as a ice packed roadway.

 

Tip #6 Listen.

 

If equipped with a CB, talk with the drivers around you, and listen to their advice. If you are a new driver, try to find a trucker who isn't talking a lot of big talk. Learn from their mistakes before you make one of your own.

 

Tune your trucks radio to a station that gives reliable weather and traffic updates.

 

Tip #7 Slow down and don't follow too close.

 

Traffic tends to bunch up on bad roads- the inclination is to follow other drivers. Maintain your "living room"- the space between you and the vehicle in front of you. Stay away from 4 wheelers- they are often under the illusion that the roads are safer than they actually are.

 

Tip #8 Watch for warning signs.

 

If there are cars in the median or shoulder, the roads are bad. If you start seeing trucks doing the same thing, it's time to get off the road and to a safe place.

 

Tip #9 There's no load worth your life.

 

If you are on dangerous roadways, you best bet is to find a safe spot to wait the weather or road conditions out. If you can't find a spot in a truck stop or other suitable haven, park on a ramp or anywhere out of the way. Try not to park on an incline- you're liable to get your self struck.