Truck driving in winter weather and other dangers drivers face

Truck driving has various dangers that fluctuate depending on the season, time of day, weather, and road maintenance. In 2020, there were 4,965 deaths and 146,930 injuries from large truck accidents. 

Most people only think of truck driving in winter weather when considering the dangers of driving. As you continue reading, you’ll see how other conditions increase the hazards truck drivers face and the threat they can cause to others on the road. You’ll also learn how to train drivers for such variables without risking drivers or equipment - saving time and money. 

How various conditions affect truck driving

Driving conditions is an umbrella term for factors affecting a driver’s ability to drive correctly. Conditions include internal factors like distracted driving or health conditions. External factors involve the following:

• Lighting
• Road conditions
• Season changes
• Traffic
• Weather

External driving conditions are challenging to train for due to their unpredictability - precisely what makes them so dangerous.

Seasons changing

Seasons and weather changes are significant problems within the trucking industry. Compared to February 2021, February 2022 showed the most significant increase in fatalities for all forms of vehicles and driving, followed by March, January, and September. This data is significant because January, February, and March represent winter driving, and September shows the beginning of fall and increased school traffic.

The month with the most significant decrease in fatalities in 2022, compared to 2021, is April, followed by June, August, October, and November. Many of these months are in the middle of seasons where drivers are familiar with the weather, potential traffic, and road conditions. 

Environment 

Driving in city environments and rural areas can be hazardous. From 2019 to 2020, deaths in urban environments increased by 8.5% compared to 2.3% in rural environments.

Urban environments have more turns, traffic, pedestrians, and other hazards to navigate, while rural environments are emptier, which can lead to problems with visibility due to the lack of streetlights. 

Time of day

The time of day can affect a driver’s abilities. Night-time driving fatalities for all forms of vehicles and driving increased by 12% from 2019 to 2020, going from 18,573 to 20,729. Daytime driving only increased 1.4%, from 17,518 to 17,764.

The time of day is a critical factor, whether it’s a lack of visibility due to darkness or the sun glaring down into a driver’s windshield. 

Weather

A study of 125,012 fatal crashes where substance use was not noted found that 9,636 accidents happened due to falling precipitation - 7.7% of all crashes. The study found that falling precipitation in the form of rain, sleet, or snow causes a 34% increase in crashes. 

Typical conditions a truck driver can experience on the road

How do specific driving conditions affect a truck driver’s ability to stay on the road? What conditions must fleet managers consider and train for their fleet? 

Seasonal weather changes

Each season brings unique truck driving challenges regarding the weather and how it affects the road.

Winter 

Truck driving in winter weather potentially brings:

• Getting stuck in the snow
• Fog
• Freezing rain
• Fuel freezing
• Glare from light hitting snow
• Hail storms
• Icy/snowy roads
• Increased risk of jackknifing 
• Diminished visibility due to shorter daylight or snow falling
• Less tire traction
• Trailer wheels freezing
• Truck and trailer lights obscured by snow
• Vehicle malfunctions due to temperature

Spring 

A trucker driving in spring may experience:

• Road maintenance detours
• Heavy rain
• Hydroplaning from rain or melting snow
• Increased traffic
• Potential flash floods
• Strong winds
• Tornadoes 

Summer

Summer truck driving can have conditions such as:

• Bright glares
• Road work detours
• Dust storms
• High temperatures
• Hurricanes
• More angry drivers
• More traffic due to tourism
• Heat-related tire blowouts
• Truck malfunctions due to overheating

Fall

Truck driving in the fall can have dangers such as:

• Farm equipment on the road
• Heavy rain
• Increase in pedestrians
• Limited visibility due to fog
• School traffic
• Sun setting quicker
• Wet leaves causing slick roads
• Wild animals crossing roadways

Driving through urban vs. rural environments

Driving through urban environments is very different from rural ones. Urban environments have more of the following:

• Buildings
• One-way streets
• Parking
• Pedestrians
• Traffic
• Turns
• Signage

While truck drivers in rural areas may experience less traffic, they must deal with the following:

• Fewer street lights/visibility
• Less signage
• More hills
• More wild animals
• Poor road conditions

Driving on various road types

Even the types of road present unique truck driving challenges:

• Broken roads: Roads full of cracks, potholes, and broken shoulders can cause severe truck damage, especially if a trucker doesn’t see them in time and crosses them at full speed. Slowing down for these problems can be dangerous when there’s significant traffic.
• Curvy roads: Handling curves while moving thousands of pounds of cargo is no easy task. A driver must balance speed with the trailer momentum to ensure they don’t swing too wide and lose control. Each road’s curve can vary, and truckers must be comfortable with many turns. 
• Wet roads: Lack of tire traction on wet roads makes it challenging for drivers to control their vehicles. Wet roads can be slippery and lead to hydroplaning and potential injuries. 
• Narrow roads: Commercial trucks take up much space, and when driving on narrow roads, they take up all the space. Navigating these types of roads requires a delicate touch so the driver can keep moving without interrupting traffic or encroaching on the other lane. 
• Roads on hills: Driving on hills is hazardous for improperly trained truck drivers. One mistake could have them speeding toward traffic in front of them or rolling back into the traffic behind them. Drivers must understand their vehicle's weight and how momentum affects them as they traverse hills. 

How a simulator prepares drivers for external driving conditions

Because of unpredictable external conditions, it’s crucial for your fleet of drivers to feel confident enough to make split-second decisions. To do that, they need experience with these challenges - but who wants to put themselves in danger?

Bringing in a driving simulator for training can help. Let drivers safely experience these situations when they make a mistake. You can use a simulator to imitate truck driving in winter weather, dealing with poorly maintained roads, or navigating the road with limited visibility. Using a DTS truck driving simulator allows you to play back the driver’s performance, highlight the moment they made a mistake, and demonstrate how to correct it.

By repeatedly using scenarios focusing on various driving conditions, your fleet will feel confident on the road by themselves. TranSim™ provides a genuine user experience with real-time feedback from the steering wheel and can mimic real tire traction depending on the simulated road the user is on.

You can also simulate vehicle malfunctions and teach drivers how to repair problems and prevent them from occurring. Examples include overheating engines in the summer or fuel freezing in the winter.

The importance of confident driving skills in any condition

Confidence leads to better judgment, which leads to better decision-making. Simulator training provides a controlled environment where drivers can improve their judgment and decision-making skills.

Assured drivers can handle long drives with changes to their environment. Even if they’re on shorter drives, confidence means fewer accidents, injuries, and loss of profits.