Here at Pacific Truck Colors, we have always made a commitment to highly valuing our customers. Treating people right is imperative to being able to serve your market over the long haul. With some of the recent weather flurries we’ve experienced here in Portland, OR., we thought we should take some time to refresh your memory with some winter driving tips to ensure that you, our family, are prepared for the worst.
7 Tips for Safe Winter Driving:
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Be prepared!
It’s so obvious, but it needs to be said. Do you have an ice scraper in your car? How about a snow shovel along with some sand? Do you have an emergency blanket in case you get stranded somewhere without cell service? These events are unlikely to happen but if you don’t consider them, you might pay a big price one day. Maybe you are a “tough guy” and aren’t concerned — but if you are a business owner or fleet manager, your personal ruggedness might not fit with your company’s values in this way. If you are responsible for a fleet, make sure each vehicle has the winter basics covered.
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Be careful with cruise control.
You and/or your employees might do a lot of driving, and cruise control is a great feature. But if conditions are rough, resist the temptation to use it. This will keep you more focused on the road and will also give you greater control of your vehicle.
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Brake correctly.
For those that have grown up in the Pacific Northwest, managing winter rain and snow is probably not going to be a problem. But for fleet managers, you might want to consider that all of your driving staff may not have grown up in these areas. Doing some basic training on braking in slippery conditions could end up being a lifesaver for those that may be used to driving in California weather.
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Keep the gas tank full.
If you or a team member get stranded with barely any fuel, you’ll be left with a limited heat source. Keeping vehicles above 1/4 tank at all times is a good policy to consider during the winter months.
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Invest in good wiper blades.
The little things can make all the difference. Keeping your company vehicles stocked with high quality blades may be a small expense now, but if they help prevent just one accident, you will be glad you did. Not only could this simple upgrade keep your repair bills down, but most importantly you will be equipping your drivers with the best visibility when they’re out on the road — and that visibility might just save a life.
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Don’t blindly follow speed limits.
Posted speeds are meant for dry, favorable conditions. You’ll want to train your team to use discretion and intuition when driving in harsh climates rather than pushing up to whatever speed the law allows. For managing workflow, your scheduling team may want to slightly reduce travel time expectations to make sure your drivers are not feeling rushed to get from A to B if conditions are bad.
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Stay knowledgeable.
With countless weather apps available on our phones, understanding the weather is no longer a guessing game. Consider implementing a strategy for your fleet manager to review road conditions each morning, so he or she will be able to alert drivers of any risky areas.
Hopefully these 7 tips for safe winter driving will keep you in control throughout the crazy winter weather! If things do go awry, we will get you back on the road quickly, with integrity. If you need help now, you can hop on over to our collision repair quote page to get connected with our team.
Stay safe and remember, keep both hands on the wheel!
