The Class A Truckstop Chapel

Safety Tips for different road conditions

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Winter weather conditions:
Adjust your speed to the existing conditions. Do not overtake or pass other
vehicles unless you have to. Slow down. Select a safe speed. Maintain a safe
following distance.
Watch far enough ahead to flow with the traffic. This will help you avoid the need
to change speeds.
Take curves and turns at slower speeds. Brake before curves. Be in the right
gear before you enter a curve. Speed up slightly in the curve.
As the temperature warms up, ice melts and becomes more slippery. Slow down
even more.
Avoid driving beside other vehicles. Keep out of the pack. Leave yourself room
for emergencies.
Keep a longer following distance. When traffic looks congested ahead, hang
back. Stop if needed and wait for things to clear up.
Plan ahead for stops to avoid panic stopping.
Pump your brakes.
Use engine oil periodically as a fifth wheel lube in cold weather.
If parts are very stiff from cold grease or snow, using diesel fuel conditioner will
loosen the parts up so that they will work freely.
A small propane torch works well for thawing out relay valves, etc.
Putting airline antifreeze into supply lines will work also.
 The air line antifreeze helps to prevent freeze ups.
Some new trailers advise not to use additives with their filtering systems.
If you are in an emergency type situation, you should use the air line antifreeze anyway.
It is recommended that the following items
be kept in your vehicle during the winter months:

An ice scraper and brush
Flares/reflectors
Blanket or sleeping bag
First aid kit
Shovel
Sand, gravel, kitty litter ( Kitty litter works the best )
Ice scraper, snow brush
Flashlight with extra batteries
Matches / lighter, candle
Food -- nonperishable items
Booster cables
Tire chains

Rain:
People do not realize just how dangerous this can be. They tend to drive to fast. When you are
driving a truck look in your mirror next time it rains and watch just how much water spray you
generate from your tires. Enough to blind the driver behind you. Also, remember what you were
taught, that you can hydroplane even at 35 mph, so please do yourself and the others a favor, and
drive at a safe speed in the rain.

There have been many trucks jackknifed because they were going to fast and needed to make a
sudden stop. You will slide even quicker, when you have a light load.

Also when passing another vehicle make sure you have enough room to return back into the lane.
There have been many trucks that come into the lane too soon, and cause the other vehicle to go off
the road. Water spray is what causes you, the driver to misjudge your distance,
and you may be the next one to cause an accident if you aren't paying attention when passing.

Also, watch for those curves, especially in the rain!

Ice:
This is very dangerous!
1. Increase your following distance.
2. Slow down! No load is worth your life or the life of someone else.
3. Tire chains help with traction , they do not prevent you from sliding. You can and will
still slide with tire chains.
4. Some states require you to pull over and put chains on before continuing
down their highways.  If the state says you need the tire chains
on to continue your trip then it's best to just find the nearest
truck stop and wait till it is safer to go on.
Traction:
To establish traction and avoid skids, start out slowly. If your wheels start spinning, let up on the accelerator until your vehicle
moves forward.  Continue to drive at a steady pace. Accelerate upon approaching a hill. This will provide additional momentum
that will help you climb the hill. With a front wheel drive vehicle, you are being pulled through the snow. On an uphill slope, the
weight of the vehicle shifts slightly to the rear wheels. There will be less weight over the wheels which provide power
and increase the tendency to slip. You can overcome this by maintaining a steady speed.

If you get stuck:
1.Shovel the snow from in front and back of all four wheels, and from under the vehicle.

2.Spread some sand or kitty litter in front and in back of your driving wheels (or use traction mats if you have them).

3.If the snow is not deep, turn the front wheels back and forth to push snow away from the tires. Try to ease out without
spinning the wheels. Spinning causes tires to heat up, thus digging you into a deeper rut.

4.Try rocking the vehicle out of the rut by shifting between forward and reverse gears. Be sure to check your owner's
manual for warnings on rocking.

If you are stuck and the road ahead is not clear, it is blowing and drifting snow, and there is no shelter in sight, you are stranded.
Should you become stranded in a snowstorm, do not leave your vehicle unless there is shelter in sight.
You are much more likely to be found by rescue and highway
crews if you stay with your vehicle. Use your winter emergency items.

5.Check the exhaust periodically to make sure it is free of snow, especially if the motor is idling.

6. Avoid running the engine more than a few minutes at any given time, and always keep a window slightly open when the engine
is running.

7. Several layers of thin clothing will keep you warmer than one heavy layer. Wrap up in a blanket or sleeping bag. To keep the
warmest, cover your head, neck, hands, and feet as well as the body.

8. Be patient! Don't panic! Highway Dept. maintenance crews will be working to clear snow from the highways and to look
for stranded motorists.

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