Tag: winter driving

safe driving your truck

4 Things You Must Have In Truck For Safe Driving 

What do you do to ensure that you are safe driving? Winter season is one of the extreme seasons. Although it is not friendly to everything, you shouldn’t stop using your truck and not get stranded in snow and ice. The cold weather can affect you and your truck. 

Just the same way you prepare your home for winter by equipping it will all winter storm essentials. Your truck has to be on the road during winter. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare your truck for a bad storm.

Winter is one of the four seasons in various parts of the world. Before it starts, you will experience weather changes that signal you to begin equipping your truck to combat the coming extreme cold. Below are some winter essentials worth having for maximum truck protection.

First Aid Kit & Reflectors

As part of safe driving, it is essential to have a fully equipped first aid kit and the necessary reflectors for yourself and the truck. It would be best if you had a flashlight to help you move around your truck, and a first aid kit will come in handy when you suffer physical injury.

Rock Salt Or Kitty Litter

Your truck might get stuck in the snow, so you need to have what will help you in case such happens. Rock salt helps in melting snow, while kitty litter will enhance the grip of your truck.

Snow Brush or Ice Scraper

Before going for a drive during winter, you need tools to help you deal with the snow. Ice scrapper, snow brush, and shovel are some essential tools you should have before starting your winter journey. In addition, consider having a pocket knife, a rope or chain for towing, and a portable battery jumper.

Water And Non-Perishable Foods

Water and non-perishable foods come in handy during an emergency. Getting out of your truck during winter to search for water or food is the worst thing no one wishes. Therefore, consider adequate water and food in your truck. Recommended is distilled water, as you can drink it and use it as a truck coolant. Regarding food items, consider high-calorie foods such as cereals, nuts, and nutrition bars.

Winter Clothing & Gloves

Keeping warm during winter should be one of your plans. Keep a few winter clothes in your truck as part of your emergency kit. Consider having socks, warm jackets, and sweaters. Your emergency bag should have hats, scarves, and masks for head protection. If you have more space, keep a blanket and a sleeping bag. But you can purchase a survival-wrap blanket that will keep you warm.

Conclusion

Safe driving during winter is fun and less hectic only if you are fully prepared for it and aware of what it entails. During this season, you will wake up to find the whole of your truck covered with snow. In such a situation, you will need to seek ways to remove the snow to access your truck.

What is covered in this guide are the basics you must have for safe driving in your truck during winter. Such basics will facilitate your smooth ride during such extreme conditions. 

Truck Driving In Winter

5 Best Tips For Safe Truck Driving In Winter

Driving in winter can be tricky, especially for some amateur drivers. Winter season is a cold season coupled with snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, which affects normal driving conditions. During winter, you will wake up to find your truck covered with snow. Staying safe during winter depends on preparing your truck against winter hazards and your general driving habit. All in all, you must maintain common sense when driving in winter. The tips in this guide will be vital to you as you prepare to drive during winter. 

Prepare Your Tires

When you live in a country where snow usually falls during winter, you must make adequate preparations before the snow falls. The basic preparations go to the wheels. Driving in snow is risky, especially when you do not have the right tires. 

Ensure you install snow tires that offer you more traction and better handling in such adverse conditions. The snow tires will prevent your truck from skidding or even getting stuck in the snow. For more traction, you can chain your tires.

When Driving In Winter, Ensure your Headlights And Windshield Wipers Are On

When snow is coming down, the visibility reduces, increasing the risk of an accident. When you turn on your headlights, you will be more visible to other road users, and the chances of a head-on collision will be minimal.

When the snow comes down, the windshield wipers will be handy. Use them at a considerable speed to allow your windshield to be free from snow, and you will be able to see more clearly. When you use the headlights and the wipers, your visibility will increase as you drive in the snow.

If necessary, Accelerate or Decelerate Slowly

During winter, your tire might take time to regain traction when you accelerate. Your truck might skid when you accelerate faster. Decelerating faster can also increase your chances of skidding. Always ensure you slowly accelerate or decelerate whenever you approach an intersection. Doing this will keep you safe every time.

Increase Your Following Distance

Driving in winter leads to the road being unclear. Your truck will take a long distance to stop on an icy road. When traveling behind other cars, it is necessary to increase your following distance to give yourself a good stopping distance. Keeping a safe space is essential when your truck is prone to sliding whenever you decelerate on icy roads. 

Brake Sooner

Starting to brake sooner on an icy road is life-saving. Bare at the back of your mind that it will take your truck time to stop in wet and snowy conditions. Applying firm and steady pressure on your brake pedal is vital and start braking sooner than you usually do. Combined with an increased following distance, doing this will protect your truck from slamming into the vehicle in front of you in case your brakes take longer to stop your truck. 

Conclusion

Driving in winter is challenging because the winter season is accompanied by poor visibility and traction. An additional tip to safe winter diving is to ensure your battery is healthy because extreme colds might interfere with the way your battery charges. When driving your truck in winter, practice safety and be cautious to protect yourself and other road users.