10-4 November Safety Brief
Safety In The Snow
As the winter months come upon us, it is time to prepare for driving in inclement weather. If you have not encountered any winter weather yet it is certainly on the horizon. Bad weather can put even the most experienced driver to the test. Snow and ice will make the road unpredictable and test the limit of your truck’s abilities. Here are just a few tips for dealing with winter weather on the roads.
When the temperatures are between 22 and 35 degrees you have the greatest risk of losing traction. Ultimately you are in charge of your safety, so use your own best judgment.
- Slow down- This should be on the top of every safe driving list. The majority of all accidents are caused by excessive speed. The posted speed limit is for ideal conditions, not inclement weather.
- Give yourself extra space- To ensure yourself enough room in a sudden emergency, increase the distance between you and other vehicles and avoid driving in a pack. Normal following distance should be increased to 8-10 seconds on slippery surfaces.
- Let there be light- Turning your lights on will not only help you to see better, it will also help others see you.
- Planning is key- Plan your trip in a way that you can avoid the worst parts of a winter storm.
- Tire Spray- Look for the water spray off other vehicles tires. When there is a lot of spray, the roads are wet. If there is little or no spray and the roads look wet, then you’re on black ice. Be very careful.
Holiday Season Driving
Thanksgiving weekend will kick off the holiday season. With that in mind, we also have to contend with holiday season traffic. There will be an estimated 40 million vehicles on the roadways this Thanksgiving weekend. Even though it’s not the busiest time on the roads, it is one of the most dangerous. Some parts of the country will be faced with already treacherous wintry roads, but all parts of the country will have extra drivers and everything that comes with them. So, remaining vigilant while behind the wheel is the best way to remain safe this holiday season. Here are a few tips.
- Plan your route and an alternate route. A GPS is not a failsafe while driving unfamiliar territory. Take a look at your route before you get on the road.
- Make sure your pre-trip inspection is as thorough as can be. Ensuring that everything is in proper working order will help reduce your risk of an incident.
- Always remember that bridges and overpasses freeze before the highway.
- As often as possible fuel up. Keeping your tank more than half full will lower the chance of any condensation building up and freezing in your tank.
- Have roadside assistance contact information readily available.
- Remember that holiday traffic is as bad on the day before and the day after the holiday.
- Stay to the right. This will help you avoid any vehicles that may lose control and drift into oncoming traffic.
- As always get enough rest. There are more than enough distractions to worry about so getting enough sleep will help you keep your focus.
Even though there will be a vast number of vehicles on the road this holiday season you still have a job to do. Safety is key. Don’t just fill up and take off.
