Winter Weather Safe Driving Tips
High Wind:Be alert for high winds on bridges and overpasses and when driving
next to another truck that may be blocking the wind.Keep both hands on the steering wheel to help maintain control.
Watch for others who may be trying to pass. A strong wind may cause a collision.
Always pull off the road and take shelter immediately during a tornado warning or in a hurricane.
Rain:
People do not realize just how dangerous this can be. They tend to drive to fast. When you are
driving a truck look in your mirror next time it rains and watch just how much water spray you
generate from your tires. Enough to blind the driver behind you. Also, remember what you were
taught, that you can hydroplane even at 35 mph, so please do yourself and the others a favor, and
drive at a safe speed in the rain.There have been many trucks jackknifed because they were going to fast and needed to make a
sudden stop. You will slide even quicker, when you have a light load.Also when passing another vehicle make sure you have enough room to return back into the lane.
There have been many trucks that come into the lane too soon, and cause the other vehicle to go off
the road. Water spray is what causes you, the driver to misjudge your distance,
and you may be the next one to cause an accident if you aren’t paying attention when passing.Also, watch for those curves, especially in the rain!
Ice:
This is very dangerous!
1. Increase your following distance.
2. Slow down! No load is worth your life or the life of someone else.
3. Tire chains help with traction , they do not prevent you from sliding. You can and will
still slide with tire chains.4. Some states require you to pull over and put chains on before continuing down their highways.
If the state says you need the tire chains on to continue your trip then it’s best to just find the nearest
truck stop and wait till it is safer to go on.