Safe Habits in Winter Driving
Winter has arrived! Some of us will love this time of year, but, for the rest of us this increases
our chances of winter driving problems. We all dread the ice, sleet and snow that masses on our
roadways, yet we still have to drive.
Let’s take winter driving seriously and use some prep and common sense to lessen the burden
and make driving safer and more relaxing.
First top up your windshield fluid and check your tires for tread depth and wear bars. Having
proper pressure in your tires makes a solid contact with surfaces and lessens the chance of a
breakdown.
Clear your vehicle of snow completely. If possible clear the top of the trailer as well. Many
trailers won’t have a build-up of snow or ice if they are used consistently, but if left in the yard
for an extended period there will be a build-up. Totally clearing the tractor is a part of a good
PTI so inspection can be thorough.
Next be prepared with a working ice scraper and brush, especially important for an extended
brush for the truck. When clearing the windows, don’t forget your mirrors (this is a clear safety
boost). Also bring a backup fluid container and blanket and flashlight for a possible roadside
breakdown.
Now, when on the roads use caution for any surface conditions that may have ice, snow or black
ice. Lower your speed, even with 18 wheels on the road contact can be lost with surface
coverings in winter. Keep space lengthened out when dropping speed, as stopping distance is
increased with surface interruptions. Increase your spacing by 1/3 to ½ if any surface is covered
by snow or ice.
When dealing with Black Ice, you may not be aware of it until you try to brake. It can appear on
the roadway after sunset if the temperature has gone above freezing and then falls with the
setting sun, thus freezing any moisture on the road. If you encounter this, stop braking and
control your steering. If the lane you are on is close to a shoulder, steer to allow one side of your
tires to be on the shoulder. This will allow braking, and should prevent loss of steering control.
Teach Safety, teach technique, and teach compliance
Calling all Instructors and TTSAO Acreddited Schools
We invite you to submit your training tips to share in next week’s Training Tip of the Week. Your participation and offerings will truly benefit all our students, and we greatly appreciate your support. Thank you!