How To Improve Truck Driver Safety in Winter
The weather is changing here in the Midwest, and when winter arrives in full force, it will have an impact on the commercial drivers on the road. With winter comes cold rain, snow, ice, and more that make driving long hours even more dangerous. We want to help keep drivers safe at RIGGUARD with a few tips on how to improve truck driver safety in the winter.
4 Tips to Improve Driver Safety in the Winter
When the snow starts to fall here in Wisconsin and the roads are wet and icy, most of us can just stay home where it is warm and dry — but commercial truck drivers don’t have that option. Freight and cargo needs to reach its destination, and in the case of trucking companies that carry medical supplies or other vital cargo, people may depend on the cargo arriving — no matter what the weather looks like outside.
Truck drivers that need to be on the road in the winter when the snow is flying and the roads are slick can take a few steps to improve their safety. Here are a few tips to help keep drivers safe when they hit the road this winter.
READ MORE: Top 5 Most Dangerous Trucking Routes in the United States
1. Practice Safe Driving Habits
When truck drivers hit the road this winter, it is important that they adjust how they drive and practice safe driving habits. This involves slowing down when roads are slick and providing more distance between vehicles to ensure you have time to stop. It is important to accelerate and brake slowly to avoid losing traction and be more cautious on bridges and highway overpasses.
2. Perform Regular Vehicle Maintenance and Inspections
Regular vehicle maintenance and inspections can do a lot to improve safety for commercial truck drivers. This means inspecting your brakes at the start of the season and ensuring that your windshield wipers remain in good condition to help you retain good visibility when it snows or rains. Daily inspections to remove and clean ice and snow from windows, mirrors, headlights, and taillights is a good practice to get into.
3. Continue to Monitor Weather and Road Conditions
It is important that owner-operators and fleet managers pay close attention to weather and road conditions in the winter when conditions can go from safe to dangerous in an instant. Check weather forecasts, road conditions, and traffic delays prior to any trip to ensure you are well prepared for the road ahead. Avoid severe winter weather when possible with alternate routes — but when it cannot be avoided, make sure you follow safe winter driving practices and are well prepared.
4. Invest in Protective and Emergency Equipment
Do you have the safety equipment that you need for winter travel? This includes protective equipment for drivers and equipment for trucks that can help improve safety. Drivers should have a cold weather emergency kit with warm clothes, a blanket, water, a flashlight, high-visibility gear, an ice scraper, and more. Owner-operators and fleet managers that want to improve truck safety may benefit from investing in snow tires, tire chains, and grille guards that can help prevent an accident and protect a truck in the event of an accident.
READ MORE: What Are the Biggest Safety Concerns for Drivers?
Are you a commercial driver gearing up for winter weather and travel? This quick guide highlights how to improve driver safety in the winter with just a few tips to get you started. Contact RIGGUARD today to learn more about how our semi truck grille guards can protect you and your truck!