At United Truck Driving School, we keep safety at the forefront of our teaching. Especially as an OTR truck driver, sometimes winter weather is hard to escape, and with winter weather comes snow, ice and dangerous conditions. Knowing how to handle these road conditions could potentially save your life or the life of another driver. It is up to you to make sure you are the best driver you could be.
Here are some vital tips to keeping you safe on the road this winter:
- Maintain additional space – Keep extra space between you and the vehicles in front of you. By creating additional space, you will have more time to correct your vehicle or break if the vehicle in front or beside you begins to slide or lose control.
- Scan ahead- It is crucial to scan even further ahead of your truck to read road conditions. Take into account how other vehicles and trucks are reacting to the winter weather conditions in the roadway in front of you.
- Regulate your speed- Typically it is safer to maintain a slower speed in unfavorable conditions. However, it is also important to maintain a steady speed. The more you accelerate and decelerate the greater your risk of sliding on snow and ice. Steadily increase and decrease your speed and take into account how your truck reacts to winter weather.
- High-risk areas- During winter weather there are certain areas that are considered high-risk areas. Bridges and overpasses are at high risk of freezing in the winter. Be aware that the low point between two hills could also have frozen over when snow and ice melted and refroze at the bottom.
- Undistracted Driving – During winter weather it is more important than ever to make sure you are not driving distracted. During these winter months, find ways to keep yourself focused.
With winter weather, there is never a guarantee that one particular thing could save you from an accident. Utilizing safe driving practices this winter will definitely decrease the odds of a disaster. If you have any questions about safe driving or becoming a student, please feel free to reach out and contact us.
