Driving in Winter is risky and dangerous – and even more so when the vehicle you are driving is a truck. The increased weight of trucks have decidedly strong effects on elements of friction and velocity that apply to road safety, especially in low temperatures. Here’s a guide to safe Winter Truck Driving Tips, as prepared by the roadside assistance and heavy duty towing experts here at Towing Chicago.
Have a Preparedness Kit
Make sure to keep the following items in your truck for all of Winter:
- Extra warm clothes
- Flashlights
- Gloves
- Rain gear
- Windshield wiper liquid
- Blankets
- Rock salt
- Jumper Cables
- Snow tire chains
- Snow brushes
Drive Slow
Make sure to drive slow in low temperatures. Hydroplaning in wet or iced up conditions can happen at any speed above 35 miles per hour. By driving at a slower pace than usual, you will mitigate these potentially deadly risks.
Keep Space
Make sure that you have plenty of flexible space between you and the vehicles in front and behind you. Sudden issues with vehicles in front of you can cause chain reactions and potentially deadly pile up accidents. By keeping a safe distance between your vehicle and the others on the road, you provide yourself with valuable reaction time to safely deal with any sudden incidents.
Beware Black Ice
Black ice is ice that forms after light rain falls when the road surface has a below freezing temperature. Bridges and overpasses are more susceptible to black ice since their floor is elevated and exposed to cold. Black ice is incredibly hard to see visually, so to be safe, drive very slowly and carefully over any sort of overpass or bridge.
Slow Braking
Make sure to slowly brake as the heavier your vehicle is – trucks are especially heavy – sudden braking is more dangerous, potentially causing a loss of control of your vehicle. Instead, lightly pump your brakes repeatedly to slowly build up to a stop. This strategy, when paired with safe distances between you and the other vehicles on the road, can be a lifesaver.