Winter Driving can be done safely.

The winter can have a vast swing in temperatures, snowfall, and ice everywhere. I have had my share of driving in bad weather.  From Massachusetts to Minnesota, the weather across the northern states has been daunting. Every time the weather comes in to where I was, I had to make a choice: Keep running and take a big chance or shut down for the night and loose some money. I have shut down in Buffalo NY because the State Police closed the Interstate not giving me a choice and I have moved through Wisconsin at 25 miles an hour just to stay ahead of the curve. As a commercial truck driver, I have a schedule to keep and no one gets paid if the wheels aren’t turning.

That all being said, we as professional drivers have to balance money and schedules with our safety and the safety of the public. A car may cause some problems out on the road if you get out of control, but if my 80,000lb truck gets out of control, we can have some serious problems.   Since the responsibility to maintain control of a big truck is a professional driver’s first order of business, he/she must have some winter driving tips to go by to determine what course of action should be taken. Here are some of my recommendations.

Here Are 6 Winter Driving Tips

1. Check weather ahead of time.  In the winter months, it is a good idea to periodically check the weather.  There are many websites and apps that can give you a pretty good idea of what to expect.  Accuweather.com is the one I use, it seems to be up to date, and they do have an app for a smartphone.  Knowing the weather ahead of time can help you choose an alternate route if you can.
2. Make sure your vehicle is in good working order. A good Pre-Trip Inspection is always a good practice and it’s the law. Battery cables, coolant, and proper tire tread can go a long way in keeping you on the road and not behind a tow truck. My company has a policy of allowing only a 3 minute idle time on all our trucks.  It should continue to idle below 35°, but knowing if it will can make a big difference in your ability to comfortably wait out any emergency. A big truck in good working order should not be anything extra for a commercial truck, but it can’t hurt to go over everything again just to make sure you will not be a casualty IF you are stuck out on the highway.
3. Slow down. This is probably the number one tip you can get from anyone who has driven in bad weather. Speed is the number one reason for accidents in bad weather. You may be able to handle your car, but if someone in front of you looses control, you may not have many options if you are traveling too fast for conditions. Remember, if you are driving a Class 8 tractor-trailer, your air brakes will have a lag: that time from when you hit the brakes to when they actuate.
4. Know where you are.  Winter weather driving in the south is a lot different than winter driving in the north.  That may not be a surprise to you, but we have all seen what a catastrophe it can be when you know how to drive in the snow but the people around you do not.  You must be patient.  Slow down.

   

5. Know when the stress is getting to you and get off the road.  If you get too stressed in a winter driving scenario, you can become a danger to everyone around you. You can get complacent or get in a hurry, and that will not be good for anyone. I have set a personal threshold: If I drive for less than 25 miles an hour for more than 1 hour, I get off the road. It is not worth the stress to keep going.  Highway hypnosis, fatigue, and boredom can get the best of you if you let it.  Get off the road, stretch, walk around the truck, get some coffee, anything to break up the monotony of the day.
6. If you do find yourself caught out in the bad weather, there are some things to remember.  A skidding car is out of control.  In a skid, you must let off the brake at some point because you cannot steer a skidding car. The results may not be any better, but you have a better chance of not hurting someone else IF you can guide your car to the best possible outcome. It would be better to sideswipe another vehicle that to rear-end another straight on.

These are the 6 things I look for when I have to do any winter driving. If we all take a little time to think about what we are doing and pay attention to the conditions around us, we can all make it home intact and safe.  Be careful, be safe, and I look forward to hearing from you.  Let me know if these tips were helpful. Contact me here on the website, on Facebook, Google+.. Everyone has a story about the time they had to get out in the horrible winter storm. Contact me and let me know your story.