The winter weather and the holiday rush of traffic can make a truck driver’s job difficult. During the holidays, this job can be rewarding, but it can also be stressful and dangerous. We want all truck drivers to stay safe this holiday season, so here are some tips for staying safe!
Slow Down
Chances of getting in an accident often triples when driving faster than the surrounding traffic. The faster you drive, the more likely you are to skid out on an icy road. The speed limits posted are based on ideal conditions, so don’t feel the pressure to drive the speed limit on icy or snowy roads.
Plan Ahead
Make sure you know your route and that your truck is in good shape to travel through ice and snow. Check the weather on the route you’re planning to take and make sure the roads are going to be safe to drive on. Pre-planning your route is important and is even more important when the crazy holiday traffic begins.
Avoid high traffic areas if at all possible and even try and have a backup plan just in case your first route fails. This will help prepare you for any hazardous conditions that can potentially pop up unexpectedly.
Prevent Distractions
No matter what season it is, it is important to prevent distractions while you are driving. There are going to be so many other drivers who are distracted by the heavy traffic, cell phones, and holiday stress. If you limit your distractions, this will help keep the roads safer for yourself and those around you.
Make Sure Your Truck is Road Ready
It is important to make sure your vehicle is ready for the road! Especially during the winter. Make sure your tires have enough tread to give you traction on icy roads. Did you scrape all the ice and snow off your truck, so your vision isn’t impaired? Pay attention to your hood, roof, windows, and lights! Are there any lights on your dashboard that could be an issue?
Increase Your Distance
Try and increase your distance from other drivers in hazardous conditions. This way, if you run into any issues, you will have more time to react and will be much less likely to get into an accident.
Plan Ahead
Be aware of what you need to do if you skid or slide on ice. Try and follow these three steps if you have a manual transmission:
- Depress the clutch
- Use your driver’s side mirror only
- Steer and counter-steer quickly to stay in front of your trailer
When you are in an automatic transmission, the only thing you need to change is to put your transmission in neutral rather than depressing the clutch.
Make sure you have a winter driving kit just in case of an emergency. It is important to have an emergency kit with:
- Water
- Non-perishable food
- Blankets
- Windshield scraper
- Bag of sand
- Extra phone charger
- Flashlight
- First aid kit
- Jumper cables
- Snowbrush
- Windshield washer fluid
- Extra clothes
Closing
With some preparation and safety measures taken this holiday season, we can all have a happy holiday with family and friends. Stay safe on the roads, and make sure to keep these precautions in mind while driving! At FCC, we care about our drivers’ safety and want them to make it back home safely. Consider driving for FCC today!