Introduction
In winter conditions filled with ice, snow, and freezing temperatures even the most experienced truck drivers are tested and can be pushed to their limits. Experienced truck drivers know that taking certain precautionary measures can make life just that little bit easier under difficult situations and help make sure you get to your destination safely.
Inspect Your Vehicle
Winter storms for truck drivers can be a fact of life depending on where they are located. Now with supposed once-in-a-generation storms occurring far more frequently even more care needs to be taken when inspecting your vehicle. Checking tire pressure, oil levels, and antifreeze levels can not only save a lot of stress but possibly your life. It is also wise to have a mechanic check your vehicle to make sure it's up to the extra rigors winter can throw at truck drivers.
Slow Travelling Speed
A large percentage of accidents can be avoided if drivers slow their speeds down to suit the current weather conditions. As an example, if roads are covered with snow your average speed needs to be reduced due to the poor traction the snow-covered road affords. Further, traveling at a lower speed will also give you more time to react should something unexpected happen ahead of you.
Increase the Space Between Yourself and Other Drivers
Stopping distance on icy roads can increase to 10x the distance of normal conditions. For this reason alone you should increase the distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you appropriately. This can also help protect you from all the other terrible drivers out there that always seem to be on the roads in winter.
Monitor Tire Spray
The Internet is full of good advice for driving in winter but something that is rarely discussed is the monitoring of tire spray. At Migway we know that one of the best ways to assess driving conditions is to observe the tire spray kicked up by vehicles on the road, especially in wintery conditions. As an example, if cars a kicking up a lot of spray the road conditions are most certainly wet, it doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out. However, if wet or snowy conditions are not kicking up a lot of spray it could indicate that water is turning to ice and additional caution needs to be applied on your journey.
Safety Precautions
Safety is always a priority no matter the weather conditions but when conditions deteriorate the attitude toward safety first becomes even more important. If you feel that conditions have deteriorated to the point where it is unsafe to drive pull over. It is also advised that if you are traveling during winter pack additional warm clothes, blankets, food supplies, a flashlight, additional tools, and safety gear. If things do take a turn for the worst you will be better prepared. It is also advised that you have some kind of specialized roadside assistance for trucks on call.
Conclusion
Driving in winter certainly increases the need to take it slowly, carefully, and check everything twice. The modern economy is dependent on truck freight and the highly skilled operators of those trucks. In difficult conditions, it is better to arrive alive, rather than push to be on time. It is becoming increasingly difficult to replace experienced drivers and any loss of life on our roads is a tragedy. Taking the above steps can help avoid potential tragedy from becoming reality.
