Winter Driving
- By Rachelle Biggs
- Published 11/9/2005
- Driving
- Unrated
Easy Does It!!! Everything you do while operating on slick surfaces should be done gently, slowly and easily. Do not jerk the steering wheel. Do not make rough downshifts from too high of an RPM. Do not hit the brakes hard.
Increase Following Distance You must increase the distance in front of you dramatically in poor road conditions. Even if you’re under control of your vehicle, many others are not. If a car goes out of control in front of you, where will you go???
Buy An Indoor/Outdoor Thermometer that you can mount on your truck so you always know the outside temperature. These are very popular among drivers, inexpensive and easy to find at nearly any medium + sized truck stop. (About $16.00 and worth every penny) Your truck may be equipped with this also.
Watch out for snow removal equipment – especially in the middle of the night. They are typically extremely slow moving and a last minute lane change to avoid one could be very dangerous.
When the road is snow covered, try to get at least one side of your truck & trailer on a surface with some traction. (The shoulder usually has better traction than the main part of the road.)
You’ll fare better when
You may want to try putting your chains on in the summer so you’ll know how to do it when it has to be done in the winter. In the middle of a snowstorm when it is in the single digits with blowing wind is not the ideal time to learn to put chains on for the first time!
Use your inter-axle differential when needed... it will give you extra traction. Just DO NOT FORGET to flip it back OFF when it is no longer needed and DO NOT run more than about 30 mph with it ON!
Be especially careful to make smooth downshifts when the road is slick. A poor downshift can throw (done from too high of RPM’s) you into a skid.
Be especially careful on ramps when the roads are slick or appear that they may become that way. Ramps are the #1 accident spot for heavy trucks – especially in the winter.
Be especially careful on bridges and overpasses when the temperature is hovering around freezing, no matter what time of year it is! They will freeze first, since they have nothing under them.
Do not leave your truck if you get stuck or caught in a blizzard! Stay in it and wait.
Do not use your Jake Brake or your Cruise Control when roads are slick.