Copyright © 2012 American Safety Management Inc. Winter Driving Safety

Winter driving is particularly hazardous Why is this Important?

Employees need to understand the specific hazards of snow and icy conditions on roads so they can adjust their driving accordingly Why is this Important?

By knowing the hazards—and the precautions to avoid them—we can avoid accidents and breakdowns and reach our destination safely despite the weather Why is this Important?

Prepare an emergency kit before you drive in wintery conditions Be Prepared!

Emergency flares or triangles Flashlight Tire jack and tools Inflated spare tire First-aid kit Jumper cables Spill proof container of sand, some cat litter, or a couple of old roof shingles to provide needed traction is stuck in snow or ice Ice scraper, snow brush, and small folding shovel Blanket Emergency food and water Emergency Kits

Keep your vehicle in good condition Having a breakdown is bad enough when the weather is good, but you don’t want to break down in the middle of a snowstorm Perform a safety check on your vehicle before you get behind the wheel Vehicle Maintenance

Test brakes Do this in a safe, clean area Vehicle Maintenance

Clear all exterior lights to improve visibility Also check that all lights are working Vehicle Maintenance

Keep windshield wiper blades clean to prevent streaking Use a paper towel and wiper fluid or a small alcohol pad, such as in the first-aid kit Replace blades when worn Vehicle Maintenance

Make sure windshield washer reserve is full Also check oil, coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid tanks Vehicle Maintenance

Make sure you have plenty of gas Vehicle Maintenance

Check tire condition and inflation Worn tires can’t grip the road and may blow out— replace them Check tire before driving as pressure falls with temperature Vehicle Maintenance

Bald tires increase the risk of a crash especially in wet weather – Cannot grip road properly – Increase stopping distance – Contribute to skidding/loss of control Rubber Manufacturers Association survery—11% of vehicles have at least one bald tire Worn Tires

Insert Abe Lincoln’s head upside down into the tread If you can see all of his head, tire is 2/32” deep or less and should be replaced Penny Test

Many tires feature wear bars Raised sections in the bottom of tread grooves When they appear “even” with the outside of the tread, it is time for tire replacement Wear Bars

Start out earlier and allow extra time when weather conditions are difficult Safe Driving Rules

Dress for the cold weather (coats, long pants, shoes, gloves, scarves and hats) Safe Driving Rules

Turn on vehicle lights so drivers can see better—and so that other drivers can see them better Safe Driving Rules

Slow down and match their speed to the weather conditions rather than the posted speed Safe Driving Rules

Do not use cruise control when wet, icy or snowy weather Safe Driving Rules

Stay alert and watch out for other drivers and dangerous road conditions Safe Driving Rules

Increase following distance from 2 seconds to at least 4 seconds Safe Driving Rules

Prepare for stops so you can bring your vehicle to a halt quickly but safely Safe Driving Rules

If you start to skid, don’t panic, steer in the direction of the skid (if your rear tires are skidding left gently steer to the left) Do not apply the brakes when skidding Safe Driving Rules

Get off the road to a place like a rest stop or turnout if weather conditions get so bad that it is unsafe to continue your journey Safe Driving Rules

If extreme weather, visibility often decreases Why it Matters

Braking distance increases on wet slippery roads—and moisture on the brake pads can create an additional hazard Why it Matters

Control of the vehicle also becomes a problem on wet or slippery roads, increasing the risk of skidding Why it Matters

The risk of accidents, injuries, and damage to your vehicle increases Why it Matters

The risk of breakdown may also increase under challenging conditions like extreme cold Why it Matters