Safety Tips For Driving In Winter
There is something special about December – holiday cheer, Christmas trees, twinkling lights and decorations, hot chocolate, and of course, snow! In New York, it can snow as early as November, and typically, the snow won’t melt away until March or April. The winter season, although very beautiful to look at (from indoors, next to a cozy fire), can be very dangerous to drive in, especially for truck drivers. Too many truck drivers do not alter their driving habits once the snow sticks to the ground and find themselves in need of a truck repair shop Chester, NY or even emergency roadside assistance. Here are a few important safety tips for driving in winter:
Have Sunglasses Ready
If you’ve never driven in the winter season and through snow before, one important thing to always have on you is a pair of sunglasses. Some days will be dark and gloomy, but when the sun is out on a clear day, the snow and ice is extremely reflective, making driving more difficult. It’s very easy to feel overwhelmed when you can’t see clearly, and other vehicles, road signs and road markings aren’t as obvious as they should be. Don’t get blinded by the snow and ice this winter, and wear your sunglasses.
Drive Slower and Keep a Safe Driving Distance
The key to driving any vehicle safely in winter is to be smooth with your steering, acceleration and brakes, but most importantly for truck drivers is monitoring your speed keeping a safe driving distance from other vehicles. Speed display signs are not changed for winter, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe to drive so fast. The roads are slick with snow and water, and sometimes even black ice, so if you’re going too fast or following too closely, that’s a big problem. One jerky movement can cause your truck to slip or spin, taking yourself, your truck and potentially other vehicles off the road. No one knows your truck like you do, so take it slow and steady through to snow, and driving will be much easier.
Be Prepared
Weather conditions can change from clear sunny skies to a blizzard in no time at all, so you need to be prepared for everything while driving your truck in winter. That means knowing the route to your destination, and safe alternatives to get you there if roads are closed or blocked off, carrying a cell phone and charger (or spare batteries) and having the right tools and equipment handy in case you are truly stuck on the side of the road. That being said, the safest thing to do in an emergency is call for immediate roadside assistance Cottage Valley, NY. A trained technician will be dispatched to your location, and can help you right on the spot, bringing the truck repair shop to you, and saving you valuable time in the process.
At United Roadside, help is just a phone call away. As professionals with over a decade of experience within the industry, and being located in New York, we are ready for the snow and you can count on us to get you through the winter season!