Most drivers are affected by winter climate. In line with the Federal Freeway Administration, greater than 70% of the roads within the U.S. are situated in areas that obtain greater than 5 inches of snow annually. That has severe implications; yearly, greater than 1,300 persons are killed in automobile crashes involving snowy, icy or slushy roads. One other 116,800 are injured because of these winter hazards. 

As a fleet supervisor, you wish to guarantee the protection of each your drivers and the drivers round them. That’s why it’s vital to remind your drivers in regards to the risks of winter and to refresh them on find out how to deal with altering winter street circumstances. 

Frequent Winter Challenges

Through the coldest months, your drivers will face elevated vacation site visitors, diminished daytime and unpredictable climate that may flip lethal in a matter of minutes. Let’s take a look at 5 frequent challenges they could encounter this winter:

1. Snow-covered roads:

Snow on the street dramatically impacts a driver’s capacity to brake or maneuver. Snowy roads can also conceal patches of ice, additional reducing the quantity of management a driver has. Areas the place the street curves and drivers can’t see what’s forward are even trickier as a result of they permit much less time for drivers to react in the event that they encounter snow or ice.

2. Decreased visibility:

Visibility turns into an issue in the course of the winter for a number of causes. Along with diminished daylight, sleet, rain, snowfall and soiled or foggy home windows also can contribute to the issue.

3. Black ice:

Icy roadways are one of many worst winter driving hazards, and black ice is particularly treacherous. Black ice often types when the temperature rises above freezing in the course of the day, permitting snow to soften and type puddles. When temperatures drop within the night, the water refreezes and creates a skinny coat of clear ice. (It’s known as black ice as a result of it seems to be the identical coloration because the pavement.) Black ice is usually discovered on bridges or beneath overpasses, so drivers needs to be notably cautious when touring these areas throughout winter months.

4. Untreated residential roads:

Residential roads can current all kinds of disagreeable surprises. Usually, these lesser-traveled roads haven’t been handled with street salt. Due to this and since they’ve much less site visitors, snow and ice can accumulate extra simply. Some notably harmful areas to be careful for embrace driveways, parking tons and rural roads.

5. Decreased traction:

Traction is important for correct dealing with of a car, and a lot of the circumstances mentioned right here contribute to decreased traction. When there’s insufficient traction, the car’s wheels could spin and drivers could lose management, sliding and/or being unable to brake successfully. Having time to make the correct driving choice is vital to getting out of those perilous conditions safely. 

Secure Driving on Winter Roads

Staying protected on icy or snowy roads requires information of how the circumstances have an effect on the car and what drivers can do to reduce hazard. Drivers who encounter issues comparable to decreased traction, restricted visibility and snow- or ice-covered roads ought to scale back their velocity and pay attention to their environment always. 

They need to keep a distance of a minimum of six seconds between their car and the one in entrance of them and keep away from sudden braking or lane modifications in winter climate. Drivers ought to maintain their eyes transferring and verify their mirrors each 5 to eight seconds to detect threats from the edges and rear early. By permitting area to maneuver their car away from potential issues, drivers are extra doubtless to have the ability to keep away from crashes or different issues by leaving themselves an out. 

A slower velocity permits time for them to react to sophisticated driving environments and decide what their finest transfer might be. The sooner the climate state of affairs is altering, the extra vital it’s for drivers to have time and area to react to it.  When circumstances turn out to be too hazardous, it’s finest for drivers to take a break till the roads are safer.

These vital steps to safer winter driving are additionally vital elements of The Smith5Keys® rules, the pillars of the Smith System driver security coaching.

Winter Climate Warnings

Even skilled drivers should be reminded of the extra challenges they face throughout winter. This can assist be certain that security is high of thoughts each time they get behind the wheel. Whereas it’s vital to really feel protected and assured whereas driving, it’s equally vital to not turn out to be overconfident in extreme climate circumstances. Believing that good driving abilities can compensate for unhealthy climate is a harmful gamble, so ensure your drivers know that sustaining their security — and the protection of the drivers round them — is at all times their high precedence. 

Secure driving begins lengthy earlier than a driver will get behind the wheel. Drivers ought to carry tire chains, a small shovel, flares and an ice brush of their car so they’re ready for altering circumstances. Previous to getting on the street, checking to make certain headlights, flip alerts and brake lights are seen is vital for making certain the driving force’s car may be seen.

In the event you’d like to show your drivers find out how to regulate their driving habits to altering circumstances, Smith System’s Driving Climate video course can assist. They’ll learn to defend themselves, their automobiles and different drivers utilizing The Smith5Keys methodology.