An analysis of car maintenance tips in driving during winter seasons

Is Your Car an Oven?

There are significant differences in stopping ability between a truck with a loaded trailer, a truck with an empty trailer aka "deadhead"and driving just the tractor aka "bobtail".

You might think it would be easier to stop with just the tractor or with no load on the trailer, but we've found that just the opposite is true.

Weather Professional truck drivers who practice safe driving know that stopping distance is also affected by weather. Professional truck drivers need to drive for conditions, allowing more room to stop when precipitation rain, freezing rain, snow, ice pellets, etc.

32 Good Winter Driving Safety Slogans - lausannecongress2018.com

The most dangerous situations are those when traction is lost, preventing the vehicle from responding to driver control of accelerating, braking or steering -- such as might occur when hydroplaning, sliding on a patch of ice and jackknifing.

Drivers of large trucks should never use an engine brake aka "Jake Brake" in wet weather because traction could be lost. In the winter, snow-covered roads can warm up during the day to partially melt off snow but freeze over again at night, creating treacherous conditions.

It is very difficult to drive on ice and most large trucks are not equipped to do it. If the roads are below freezing and there is any rain, mist or fog, there is the possibility that "black ice" can form; it's thin, nearly invisible and very dangerous. We once encountered a set-up for black ice in the mountains of North Carolina.

Based on conditions, we advised our fleet manager of conditions, parked for the night and set out the next morning after the temperature had risen. What did we miss? In the night, freezing rain froze on the surface of the road, causing numerous cars and one large truck to literally slide off I, either on the shoulder side or into the median.

Other weather conditions can also be hazardous. Fog, wind, blowing sand, blowing snow and bright sunshine can all present challenges to driving. While strong winds are always a challenge to drivers of high-profile vehicles, cross-winds can be especially dangerous.

The secret to driving in any hazardous situation is to slow down and know when to stop. We refer to knowing when to stop in winter on our snow chains page. Momentum Because of the size and momentum of their vehicles, professional truck drivers should learn to try to anticipate the actions of drivers of other vehicles around them.

Part of this training involves looking down the road much farther than the typical driver does. This can be hard to do if not downright impossible on hilly or curvy roads.

Autumn Safety Tips There’s nothing like the crisp, cool air and luscious foliage to get you excited for the changing seasons. Your pet, too, is probably welcoming a break from summer's hot, sticky weather. Fall & Winter Car Maintenance Tips. so it’s important to make sure that your car is prepared for a change in temperatures and driving conditions. Here are some car maintenance tips to help you get ready for a new season behind the wheel. There are few things more disheartening than a dead battery in the colder seasons. Temperature. Myth # 2: It takes more gas to restart your car than to keep it running. Shutting it off and starting it again is also very hard on the lausannecongress2018.com the myth busted below.

The illustration below shows a large truck and car with lines drawn to show estimated distances that drivers may be looking ahead of their vehicles.

Regarding Relying on GPS Drivers of high profile vehicles need to be especially concerned about low clearances under bridges and through tunnels.

We have read many articles about "professional" drivers who relied on a non-motor carriers' GPS unit and peeled back part of the roof of their vehicles or got stuck or both. They ignored, to their own peril, the information clearly written on road signs and clearly documented in every motor carriers' atlas.

One example is a driver who ignored an 11'3" clearance sign and rammed his truck under a bridge. Tailgating and Following Distance Drivers of large trucks and four-wheeled vehicles are both capable of following too closely behind the vehicle in front of them, a situation known as " tailgating.

Professional drivers should never tailgate vehicles in front of them, no matter the size or weight of the vehicle.

It is possible to discourage others from tailgating you as you drive your truck. It is also dangerous to practice cutting in between large trucks. This action automatically reduces the following distance of the truck in the rear position and provides a set-up for a collision.

Backing Up The very nature of most professional drivers' jobs call for them to back up their trucks frequently. Backing occurs often at shipper's and receiver's docks as well as truck stops. Professional drivers who practice safe driving know that backing accidents can be avoided by observing the familiar acronym G.

Get Out And Look. This is especially important when backing in from the driver's "blind side.

Fall Driving Conditions, Car Care and Maintenance Tips

Examine the following illustration, which has been created to show the differences in turning radius between two trailers whose tandems are set differently: The lengths and angles of the two lines are the same; only the point at which the lines intersect has changed.

The numbers shown on the horizontal lines are in pixels, just for comparative purposes. Both trailers swing about their pivots. The driver whose trailer has tandems all the way at the rear will always know where the rear of his trailer is as he backs into a spot; however, there may not be the forward space required to make the turn.

Alternatively, the driver whose trailer has tandems pulled forward must be certain to clear objects on his right-hand blind side because of the pivot point.

In difficult backing situations, it is always helpful to have another pair of eyes "on the ground" someone to spot or help you see. If you need help seeing, don't be afraid to ask for it.During Arizona’s seasonal monsoons, getting behind the wheel can be hazardous.

Slippery roads, unexpected wind gusts, flooded highways, and poor visibility all contribute to the dangers of driving . Can I use my All Season Tires in Winter? As winter draws closer, and road conditions begin to worsen, many Canadians believe their all season tires can handle the ice, slush and snow.

However, despite their name, all season tires are not designed for areas that receive continual snow and low temperatures.

For all Seasons & Reasons. To maintain control, you need tires that provide the optimum amount of friction year-round. That means matching tire composition and tread pattern to the driving conditions—particularly temperature.

5 Winter Car Care Tips. December 17, ; During the summer and fall, contaminants can get caught in your air filters and will eventually get caught inside your vehicle and cause problems. If you see any debris caught on the filter, it’s a good idea to get the filter replaced.

Driving Safely All Winter Long. Is A Dashboard Camera. Tips on how to prepare your home for winter, preparing your home for winter, winterize your home, winter home prep, prepare your home for winter weather 15 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Winter.

Invest in an economical vehicle with a high MPG when you make your next purchase, continue to take care of your current vehicle with DIY car maintenance tips, and carpool to work.

You may even want to invest in a gas credit card.