Tactics For Tackling Deadly Winter Roads
It’s the most dangerous time of the year, and that goes double for truck drivers.
This season, we’ve witnessed the damage that winter storms can cause, especially in regions unaccustomed to snow, ice, or whiteout conditions.
Here are some common tips (and a few novel ideas) that keep safe driving top of mind for both regular vehicle and truck drivers.
Visibility
- Warm up your vehicle and cab first.
- Make sure your lights, windshield, windows, and mirrors are as clean as possible and take every chance you have to do to wipe them down.
- Invest in heated cold-proof or waterproof camera systems that eliminate the need to leave your vehicle in the first place. This may be a lifesaver in itself!
Driving
- Drive slower than normal to avoid invisible (better known as black) ice, which forms on the road after snow melts and then freezes over.
- Give more space to other cars than you usually would, as slowing down and braking are decelerated in slippery conditions; at least 4 car lengths is a good distance. If you can clearly see the next car’s tail lights, you’re too close!
- Invest in a waterproof proximity alert--if you have to drive in whiteout conditions, this will increase visibility without having to see, and give a warning before a worse-case scenario can happen.
Skidding
- For a back wheel-skid, steer in the direction you’re skidding and avoid accelerating or frantically pumping the brakes if you have anti-lock brakes. Pump them gently if you have standard brakes.
- For a front wheel-skid, avoid accelerating and shift to neutral, and avoid steering altogether until you’re done skidding.
If You’re Stuck
- Avoid spinning your wheels as much as possible. Warm parked tires turn snow into water, which then turns water into ice in freezing conditions. A useful hack for creating traction underneath your wheels is throwing some kitty litter underneath them. It’s an effective and environmentally safe way to get out of those ruts.
Brakes
- For standard brakes: pump your brakes instead of hard-stopping,; for anti-lock brakes, pump gently.
- Watch for the ice around in your air tanks, as neither your engine heat nor the compressed air in the tank is enough to melt it. Carrying a hammer and putty knife to manually break and discard the ice that results from melted snow that gets under there is the best way to go about preventing build-up.
Of course, the best advice is avoid driving altogether in bad conditions altogether, but that’s not always possible. Staying cautious and prepared is your best option!
