Safe driving in winter weather requires preparation, patience and vigilance
George Spears has driven the rugged and perilous Dalton Highway that runs from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay in northern Alaska for 30 years. A featured driver on the most recent season of the History Channel’s “Ice Road Truckers” series (9 p.m. ET, Sundays), Spears says there are two kinds of drivers on the highway: “One who’s been in the ditch and one who’s going. Yes, I’ve been in the ditch; yes, I’ve been upside down. I’ve been every way but sideways.”
Spears’ experiences in an extreme environment – where snow and ice can hang around for up to six months a year – are atypical of what most drivers will face. But many drivers do encounter unexpected road conditions en route in winter that demand an extra dose of attentiveness, preparation and skills to ensure safe arrivals.
Making preparations
Successful winter driving begins before you pull out. “No. 1 thing we preach is to be prepared,” says David Martin, regional recruiting and safety supervisor for Oak Harbor Freight Lines, based in Portland, Ore. They urge drivers to have appropriate clothing and food and water on board, including “something to snack on if you are caught in a mountain pass for eight to 10 hours while they clear avalanches.”
Gordon Bow, independent owner-operator from Oakfield, N.Y., begins prepping his truck in the fall for winter driving. He makes sure his heater cores are dust-free, his batteries charged and free of corrosion on the terminals and his radiator and heater hoses free of cracks. He ensures his air dryer is working well and replaces the filter if necessary.
If Bow has to replace any tires, he’ll do it in late fall. “They will harden up and give you better service if you replace them in the fall,” he says. “You’ll lose a couple of 32nds faster if you replace them in July than in November or December.” And inspect your tire chains for broken links.
Watching speed
It seems like a no-brainer to slow down on snowy or icy roads, but Bow says if you feel comfortable going 45 mph, throttle your speed down to 40 or 42 to maintain control. If you feel slippage at all, he says, “you’re going too fast.” If you’re driving with chains, top speed should be 25-30 mph to protect your chains and tires.
