Ice driver terminology drivers#
Is Your Vehicle Ready for Snow?īoth car and truck drivers should make sure their vehicles are set to go before heading out into the snow. If you’re attempting to pass, your vehicle could be hit.
Ice driver terminology professional#
Professional truck drivers know to apply the brakes when the truck and trailer are straight but if the tires hit black ice, a spinout may be unavoidable. During a snowstorm, trucks have an increased risk of jack-knifing. Allow the truck it needs to turn, before safely proceeding on your journey.Īnother reason to keep your distance and never pass a truck in wintry conditions is the potential danger of braking. Especially in snow and ice, the trailer could fishtail on a slippery surface. While you may be able to pass a sedan making a righthand turn, never attempt this maneuver with a truck.
Tractor trailer trucks make wider turns than passenger vehicles. Large trucks need more distance and time to stop, so other drivers should be several car lengths behind, in case a truck ahead suddenly applies its brakes. It’s very dangerous to tailgate other vehicles, especially in inclement weather conditions. The general rule of thumb with following trucks is that if you can’t see their mirrors, you are driving too close. Truck drivers like to keep a good distance between themselves and other vehicles in front and along the sides, so it’s not recommended for other drivers to travel too close to this space. All drivers should travel at a safe speed and leave plenty of room around the vehicle. Remember that the size of these vehicles make it harder to stop on a dime, so these drivers will be slow in the snow for everyone’s safety.
No driver should travel fast in icy, snowy conditions, but large truck drivers will be traveling well below the speed limit. Keep the following tips in mind to help keep yourself and truck drivers safe on the roads. Although these drivers have an advanced skill set in terms of vehicle maneuverability and skid control, they also have to factor in the behavior of the other drivers around them, which can make winter travel more challenging. For commercial truck drivers, the dangers of driving on ice and snow are multiplied. As a driver in New England, you know how the roads can get in winter: Slick and slippery until they are plowed after a snowstorm.