Winter is considered the most dangerous driving season because in many states winter weather brings heavy snow, freezing rain, flooding and bitterly cold temperatures – all of which can wreak havoc on road conditions.
Omnitracs (www.omnitracs.com), a provider of comprehensive fleet management technologies, recently offer some winter driving tips for encouraging safe driving behavior and good vehicle maintenance.
Driving safety
- Remain vigilant in managing Hours of Service.
- Slow down and be cautious in adverse weather such as rain, sleet, snow, fog and wind.
- Minimize distractions.
- Plan alternate routes and allow for extra time in case of road closures.
- Always wear safety belts.
Vehicle maintenance
- Maintain proper tire inflation pressure.
- Look for uneven patterns on tires, these are a great indicator of uneven wear caused by poor alignment, worn bearings and/or kingpin wear (steering axle).
- Look for steam or melted snow coming off wheel hubs, as this could be a signal for over-heating wheel bearings.
- Leverage the Vehicle Inspection Report application to ensure all vehicle systems are in top condition and preempt on-road mechanical issues.
- Check battery charge and windshield wipers, keep windows clean for maximum visibility, monitor anti-freeze levels and put no-freeze fluid in the washer reserve.
- Use white snow to check for fluid leaks after you have been parked for a while.
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