Top 10 Winter Driving Tips
As we enter the winter driving period, and much earlier than usual, I might add, we need to be aware of our surroundings more than ever. We need to break the habits of summer driving and now begin to re-learn our winter driving skills in order to ensure a safe trip. It is necessary to adapt our driving style, when driving in poor weather conditions, especially on snow-covered or icy roads. Good maneuvering and skid control skills are essential in poor weather. Knowledge and implementation of proper, preventative safety skills for driving in poor conditions, can truly separate the professional drivers from the rest of the pack.
Here are the top 10 winter driving tips for commercial vehicles:
- Slow down — most accidents occur because drivers don’t adjust their speed according to the road conditions. While driving on a snow-covered road, you may need to compensate for the poor traction by reducing your speed. Driving at the speed limit may be legal but is often too fast for snow covered or icy roadways. Moreover, going slow will also give you more time to react if anything goes wrong. So, be extra-easy with your accelerator this winter. Take as much time as necessary. DO NOT HURRY. Speed kills. This rule should ALWAYS be at the top of any winter safety tips list.
- Avoid unnecessary lane changes – In bad weather, patience is the name of the game!. Making lane changes to pass other vehicles can cause tires to lose traction in slippery conditions and can cause you to lose control of your vehicle. There is nothing wrong with staying in your lane and SLOW with traffic. When conditions are bad, getting there ON-TIME is not as important as getting there SAFELY. Take your time and concentrate on your driving.
- Don’t follow vehicles too closely – On snow covered and icy roads, the stopping distance for a bus is 10 times the normal stopping distance. That’s why it’s imperative to keep some space between you and the vehicle in front of you, (7 to 14 seconds or more) so when you hit a patch of ice and need to react, you’ll avoid a rear-end collision and/or a trip into the ditch. Leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of your bus, and beside your bus, when possible.
- Refrain from having to make sudden reactions – avoid hard braking, accelerating, or taking corners too fast, which could lead to a collision, send your bus into the ditch, or cause a roll-over. Remember that it’s better to be cautious before you find out it is too late.
- Know the road conditions – watch for black ice—a clear layer of ice that forms when the temperature is close to freezing. It can be hard to see and can occur even on a sunny day. The road may look slightly wet. Watch for black ice when the temperature is near 32-40°F, and pay attention to clues, like frost forming on your truck antennae and mirrors. Watch for the water spray coming off tires from other vehicles. If the spray stops, black ice may be forming.
- Don’t travel as part of a pack — Traffic seems to move in ‘packs’ on the roadway. Find a safe way to get away from the pack and travel alone, with the goal being to maximize the distance around your vehicle. Travel slower if necessary.
- Be careful on bridges and overpasses – They usually freeze first. You could be traveling fine on the highway but lose control once you enter a bridge, so drive with care.
- Ensure all systems are a go — be absolutely certain during your pre-trip check before you leave, that the defroster and heater are working properly. Check wipers, wiper motor, lights, esp. brake and taillights. Be sure washer fluid is topped up, and be certain windows and mirrors are completely clean before departure.
- Stay smooth – in cold weather, try hard to refrain from doing anything sudden – sudden braking, sudden acceleration, cornering, etc. If the situation demands you to slow down suddenly on a slick road, pump your brakes lightly. The key is to maintain a consistent speed and avoid doing anything that reduces traction on the slippery roads.
See and be seen – Be aware of your surroundings. Look ahead, to the sides and rear.