Safety awareness is the first step to health and safety.
The pre-trip inspection is an important step in your day. During winter driving conditions, it is critical.
The Six Primary Hazards of Winter Driving
While the two major hazards in winter driving are commonly considered to be poor traction and reduced visibility, research has shown that there are six important problems that confront all drivers.
1. Poor Traction
To keep your grip, start off slow and easy. Do not spin your wheels. In deep snow, try turning your wheels from side to side to push the snow. Before you turn off the ignition, move your vehicle back and forth 1 to 2 metres (4 to 5 feet). This packs the heavy snow for easier starting. When you are pulling out, use a light foot on the accelerator, easing forward gently. Vehicles stuck at an intersection, on a hill, or at an entrance create aggravating delays, major traffic tie-ups, and even accidents.
2. Reduced Ability to Stop
It takes 3 to 12 times the distance to stop on ice and snow-covered roads than on dry roads. Test studies show that the heavier the vehicle, the greater the stopping distance.
Leave a larger following distance between you and the vehicle in front. Gearing down will also help bring your unit to a safe stop. The recommended safe following distance under ideal conditions is 1 second for every 3 metres (10 feet) of vehicle length (e.g., the safe following distance for an 18-metre tractor-trailer combination is 6 seconds). Under winter conditions, widen this gap accordingly — the more severe the conditions, the wider the gap.
3. Starting and Stopping
Braking on ice is never easy but as the temperature rises, ice becomes even more slippery. For example, your braking distance can double with a temperature variation from zero to -18° celsius. When driving in winter weather, it is important to check the feel of the road when you start out and at regular intervals on your trip.
4. Slippery Surfaces
The action of tires spinning and sliding on snow and ice polishes the surface. This greatly decreases traction on road surfaces that are already hazardous. This happens most often at intersections, on curves, and on hills.
The slippery road surface increases braking distances, slows traffic, and presents a severe hazard at intersections. Compensate for it in your driving. Slow down early when you approach a slippery intersection, curve, or hill. Adjust to the existing road, weather, and traffic conditions. Gearing down may be necessary to slow down safely.
Ice
Ice can sometimes be invisible. The road ahead may appear to be black and shiny asphalt. But be suspicious — it may be covered by a thin layer of ice known as black ice. In the winter, asphalt is usually a grey-white colour. If you see a black surface ahead, slow down and brake smoothly and gently. Proceed with caution.
5. Reduced Ability to See and Be Seen
Before starting your trip, clean off the entire windshield and all the windows. In winter weather, it is even more important to have full visibility of the road and surrounding traffic. Wipe off the headlights, brake lights, taillights, and turn signals so that others can see you. You may have to do this frequently during a heavy storm. Those few extra minutes could save your life.
Road splatter can leave you blind. Use your windshield washer often. Washer fluid contains 30% and 50% methyl alcohol, preventing it from freezing in the bottle under the hood. On the windshield, however, it has a different effect. Since alcohol evaporates before water does, the antifreeze is weakened and the evaporation chills the remaining fluid rapidly. Air rushing by your vehicle further speeds evaporation. To prevent a windshield freeze-up, be sure you use an antifreeze solution that’s right for the average winter temperatures in your area. Don‘t dilute it — that will weaken its effectiveness even further.
Before using windshield washer, prepare the windshield by heating it with a full blast from the defroster. Run your heater and defroster for a few minutes before you start out. You’ll prevent sudden fogging of your windshield. At night, stop occasionally to clean off the headlights. In fog or heavy snowfall, keep lights on low beam, and adjust your speed accordingly.
6. Hazards of Jackknifing for Tractor-Trailer Combinations
There are two distinct kinds of jackknifing:
- A tractor jackknife in which the rear of the tractor skids sideways
2. A trailer jackknife in which the rear of the trailer comes around.
Facts on Jackknifing
Repeated tests have shown that if a jackknife develops beyond 15 degrees, it is almost impossible to recover. A jackknife can go to 15 degrees in one and a half seconds. You must react fast in order to take preventative action and recover control of your vehicle. The faster this 15-degree angle develops, the greater the severity and potential damage of the jackknife.
How to Prevent Jackknifing
Safe defensive driving and adjusting to conditions offer the best safeguard against jackknifing. Going over a hilltop at 60 km/h to discover a sheet of ice or cars and trucks piled up below invites tragedy. A little caution and alertness will prevent running into trouble. Letting the truck build up speed downhill before a turn or a stop invites danger by having to overbrake, which could result in a skidding or jackknife accident.
