Winter isn’t over in much of the country and winter driving is still dangerous. Some places the winter seems to never end, and drivers get weary of dealing with the weather conditions. Worse, having gone this long without an accident, drivers get careless. Snow, ice, high winds, and low-light levels make for dangerous journeys which are even more problematic for heavy high-sided vehicles, making good visibility even more essential. Even with Spring just around the corner, it’s still time for a Winter driving refresher.
With the help of Brigade Electronics, Portland, Ind., we’ve put together a few safety tips for winter driving. The most obvious one to lead off with, whether you are the driver or the dispatcher, is the Boy Scout motto: Be prepared.
Not all safety tips are aimed at those doing the driving. For example, dispatchers and fleet managers should allow more time for drivers to make their routes or deliveries. Here are some more valuable tips for management:
- Ensure the driver or lot attendant sees that the entire vehicle is cleared of ice and snow before leaving, particularly windshield and mirrors
- Check that every cab has a shovel, and a bag of salt in case the driver needs something to put under the wheels if the vehicle becomes stuck in a snowdrift
- Tell drivers to add some warm clothes, a flashlight and a phone charger to the cab before leaving
- Ensure that traffic routes on construction sites are clear and well-gritted
While Driving
- Take particular care on ramps and bridges, as elevated surfaces are the first to freeze
- Drive slower on highways and streets
- Slow down even more on jobsites. Stopping and turning times are increased when routes are icy or wet, factor this into work schedules
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Admin. recommends increasing your following distance; learn how far you travel when braking on dry and wet pavement, add more distance on snow and ice
- Braking must be careful and steady, and much more time should be allowed, particularly for articulated vehicles
- Avoid any sudden movements
- Be aware that road and traffic signs can become obscured by blowing and even piling snow
- If stuck in snow, engage the locking differential to help gain traction. If there isn’t one, use the highest gear possible
- When conditions are hazardous, visibility becomes even more essential for commercial vehicle drivers. Road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and even other vehicles driven by people who may have little experience of the conditions, are very vulnerable.
Brigade, a manufacturer of vehicle safety systems, tests its products under all weather and climate conditions, just as drivers should test their equipment and skills, to ensure they can take anything the weather throws at them. Because it exports globally, vehicles using Brigade products can be working in punishing conditions; some products are tested to withstand operating temperatures as low as -72° F.
Original Article: https://constructech.com/spring-is-coming-but-winter-driving-tips/
