Dangers Unique to Winter Driving

Winter weather imposes a long list of seasonal challenges on fleet managers, from dealing with snow-blocked routes to keeping the vehicle fleet from freezing over. Drivers are also put at a higher risk on the road. Extra accidents on account of bad weather can eat into your company’s profit margins, so putting extra emphasis on winter driving education for employees is a good way to safeguard revenues. Helping drivers to understand these risks allows them to anticipate the dangers on the road.

Reduced visibility
It doesn’t take much icy precipitation to partially obscure a driver’s view or hinder his long-distance perception, and glare caused by fallen snow can distract drivers from the road. These potential problems highlight the need to keep vehicle windshields and lights as clean as possible. Likewise, drivers can prevent icy buildup from compromising their view by stowing extra windshield fluid during winter trips. Drivers can also maximize visibility by scraping their windshields clear of ice before every trip.

Icy roads
Tires require flush contact with the road to gain traction, but this process becomes difficult when the roads are covered with sleet and snow. As a result, vehicles become significantly less wieldy on the road. The Weather Channel encourages drivers to make only slow, measured maneuvers when driving over icy roads. This goes double for larger vehicles, which typically are less effective at turning and braking on normal roads. The loss of traction caused by icy roads puts drivers at risk for a collision if they are not careful in their driving.

Heavy snowfall
Severe storms can make safe driving impossible and force drivers off the road until the storm passes. In cases of extreme precipitation, drivers are at risk of being snowbound in their vehicles, and potentially stranded until help arrives. AAA warned that drivers who are snowbound should not attempt to free themselves from their vehicles. The vehicle will provide some protection from the cold and is more visible from distance than a person.

Flat tires risks
Cold weather slows down molecules in the air, including those inside the tires of your vehicle fleet. Low tire pressure caused by chilly temperatures is easily remedied with routine maintenance, and failure to keep tires inflated increases a driver’s risks on the road. Underinflated tires suffer reduced grip, wear quickly and are more likely to go flat on the road. Poor inflation decreases a vehicle’s performance as well, so investing in tire maintenance can help reduce costs on multiple fronts.

Mechanical breakdowns
Failure to keep fleet engines flush with anti-freeze can have dire consequences in the winter. Radiators are vulnerable to freezing over and several of the engine’s mechanical components can become damaged by below-freezing temperatures. Like tire inflation, this risk can be alleviated with routine maintenance. Regardless, encouraging drivers to keep their ears open for signs of engine failure may help your fleet catch a repair problem before it gets worse.

Battery power loss
Interstate Battery pointed out batteries lose a lot of power as the temperature drops, up to 50 percent when the thermometer drops below zero degrees. That’s why fleet vehicles need batteries with enough power to remain operational despite the cold weather. Car Talk recommended that drivers choose the most powerful battery they can fit in their vehicle during winter, ideally one rated at 660 cold cranking amps. Failure to keep up with battery repair could leave a driver stranded and with your fleet company scrambling to recover the employee and vehicle.