It’s that time of year when weather conditions change, and truckers need to be aware of how adverse road conditions, like rain, snow, sleet, fog, and gusting winds, can impact visibility, braking distance, and overall vehicle control. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, approximately 12% of vehicular crashes are weather-related. Specifically, 73% of vehicular accidents occur during rain (including mist), 21% during freezing precipitation (snow, sleet, hail, or freezing rain or drizzle), 5% during low visibility (fog or blowing snow), and 1% during severe crosswinds.
While truckers have control over their own rig, the same isn’t so for other drivers on the road. Reinforcing best practices through driver training is crucial in preventing accidents.
Plan Ahead, Check the Weather Forecast
Always plan ahead for long-distance drives. Poor weather patterns can hinder your trip, so consider taking a longer route that may ultimately save you time, rather than driving through a storm and getting caught or slowed by the conditions.
Fog
Fog can impede a driver’s visibility, with patchy fog potentially worse, as drivers tend to pick up speed while driving through less dense areas. You never know what’s waiting around the corner. Always slow down when driving through patchy fog, even in places that appear more visible. If needed, you can always pull off to the side of the road, turn on your hazards, and wait it out.
Rain, Snow, and Ice
Rain is routine for truck drivers and avid travelers, so you likely know what to do. Remember to turn your low beams on, manage your speed, and maintain the quality of your windshield wipers.
A combination of rain and sleet in the winter is terrible, especially if it’s followed by snow. Consider driving in a higher gear to lower wheel spin and add traction. Unfortunately, vehicles may still cut off truck drivers despite the road conditions and safety hazards, so brake and lengthen your following distance.
Hail
Sometimes, hailstorms seem to appear out of the blue and are unavoidable. If this happens, pull off to the side of the road, preferably in a sheltered place, and wait for the hailstorm to subside. If you are unable to find a sheltered area, pulling over and staying in your vehicle until the storm subsides is always better than driving through it.
Wind
Grip the steering wheel firmly to maintain control against gusts, and slow down as higher speeds make it harder to react to wind gusts. Avoid sudden lane changes and passing. Maintain a greater distance from other vehicles and be aware of your surroundings. Also, because wind speed and direction can change abruptly, keep your truck closer to the shoulder than it is to the other lane. If the wind starts to affect your lane-keeping, it’s better to have the trailer move on the shoulder side than the side with other passing vehicles.
If conditions become too dangerous, the safest option is to pull over to a secure location and wait for the wind to subside.
About Western Truck
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