Winter Weather
Be Prepared for Winter Driving
Tips for Every Driver:
-
Gather and review all weather information along your route and then make a plan before leaving to ensure safety.
-
Reduce the truck speed by half the posted speed limit on snow and reduce the speed even more if the roads are icy.
-
Increase following distance to 12-15 seconds when operating in adverse weather conditions.
-
Wet roads turn to ice after sundown so travel as much as possible during daylight hours and avoid driving during early dawn or dusk.
-
Stop driving if weather conditions become too dangerous (i.e., heavy snow, no visibility).
-
When traveling in snow or on ice, use chains for traction. The time it takes to stop and chain up may just save your load and your life.
-
Ensure the weight of the load is distributed evenly over all axles, except for the driver axle where you will slightly increase the weight.
-
Bobtailing or pulling an empty trailer on slick roads increases the risk for an accident.