Winter Driving Safety Tailgate Meeting Guides
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Winter Driving Safety Tailgate Meeting Guide Prepare your vehicle for winter 2. Give your vehicle a check-up. You may know how to drive for winter conditions – • Before each trip, do a ‘circle check’ (walk around your braking in snow, handling a skid, and more. But what if vehicle to inspect its overall condition). your vehicle does not respond? A winter-ready vehicle is • Review your vehicle’s maintenance record. Take it in just as important as good driving skills. for repair if needed and report any concerns to the Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of workplace company. deaths in British Columbia. On average, the number of • Make sure the battery, brakes, lights, fuses, cooling/ crashes where someone is injured or killed on BC roads heating systems, exhaust/electrical systems, belts due to driving too fast for the conditions almost doubles and hoses are in good shape. from nearly 121 in October to over 234 in December.* • Keep the gas tank full to avoid condensation in the A winter-ready vehicle allows you to better handle winter tank which can cause fuel lines to freeze. conditions. Here’s what to do: 3. Equip your vehicle with a winter 1. Install four matched winter tires with the survival kit. winter tire logo. Recommended items are an approved high-visibility • Winter tires provide better traction in cold weather vest, non-perishable food, blankets, first aid supplies, (7 degrees Celsius or less). When the temperature windshield scraper, snow brush, spare tire, wheel wrench dips below 7 degrees, the rubber in all-season tires & jack, shovel & traction mat, sand or kitty litter, fuel begins to harden. This means less elasticity and line antifreeze, flares & matches or lighter, tire chains & traction on the road. gloves, flashlight & extra batteries, battery jumper cables, • Check your tire pressure once a month, or more, sandbags for extra weight, extra clothing & footwear. depending on temperature changes (tire pressure drops in colder conditions). Know before you go. • Tires marked with an M+S are also Before heading out: legally acceptable but do not provide • Visit DriveBC.ca for current road conditions. the same degree of performance as a mountain snowflake tire in severe • Visit ShiftIntoWinter.ca for tips on ways to prepare winter conditions. yourself, your vehicle, and how to drive safely on winter roads. • Winter tires, to qualify as legal, must have a tread at least 3.5 mm deep. * ICBC Casualty Crashes by Contributing Factor. Driving Too Fast for the Conditions 2009 – 2013 Police Reported Data Disclaimer. This tailgate meeting guide does not take the place of professional occupational health and safety advice and is not guaranteed to meet the requirements of applicable laws, regulations, and rules, including workplace health and safety laws and motor vehicle and traffic laws. The members of the Winter Driving Safety Alliance and their respective employees, officers, directors or agents (collectively the “WDSA”) assume no liability for or responsibility for any loss or damage suffered or incurred by any person arising from or in any way connected with the use of or reliance upon the information contained in this tailgate meeting guide including, without limitation, any liability for loss or damage arising from the negligence or negligent misrepresentation of any of the WDSA in any way connected with the information contained in this tailgate meeting guide. The information provided in this tailgate meeting guide is provided on an “as is” basis. WDSA does not guarantee, warrant, or make any representation as to the quality, accuracy, completeness, timeliness, appropriateness, or suitability of any of the information provided, and disclaims all statutory or other warranties, terms, or obligations of any kind arising from the use of or reliance upon the information provided, and assumes no obligation to update the information provided or advise on future developments concerning the topics mentioned. (12-2014) Winter Driving Safety Tailgate Meeting Guide Winter tire specs Some think they can get away with all-seasons by relieving the tire pressure to offer more contact with the Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of workplace road. You can’t! An underinflated tire can be too flexible deaths in British Columbia. and could damage the vehicle’s internal components Whether you drive for work full time or part time, your resulting in possible tire overheating or even a blowout. vehicle is your ‘workplace on wheels’. Winterize it to maximize your safety. Obey the ‘Winter Tire’ and ‘Chain Up’ signs One of the first lines of attack is installing There are designated routes that four winter tires – each with the mountain require winter tires or chains from snowflake symbol and tread of no less than October 1 to March 31. Always put 3.5 mm. Tires marked with an M+S are also chains on in a safe area. Wear an legally acceptable but do not provide the approved high-visibility vest and same degree of performance as a mountain turn on your work vehicle’s hazard snowflake tire in severe winter conditions. lights. Make sure your four tires match. If you use different types Visit DriveBC.ca for information on of tires, instead of four matched ones, it could cause your winter tire requirements for various vehicle to fishtail. highways. You’ll also find chain-up instructions. Winter tires versus all-season tires: If you have any questions about • Winter tires outperform other types of tires during all using chains, talk to your Supervisor. winter conditions once the temperature drops below 7 degrees Celsius. Know before you go. • All-season tires can’t compete. The rubber in them Before heading out: begins to harden once it dips below 7 degrees. This • Visit DriveBC.ca for current road conditions. means the tires lose elasticity and traction on the road. • Visit ShiftIntoWinter.ca for tips on ways to prepare • In contrast, the grooves in winter tires are about 30 per yourself, your vehicle, and how to drive safely on cent deeper than all-season tires, so they grip the road winter roads. more effectively. Disclaimer. This tailgate meeting guide does not take the place of professional occupational health and safety advice and is not guaranteed to meet the requirements of applicable laws, regulations, and rules, including workplace health and safety laws and motor vehicle and traffic laws. The members of the Winter Driving Safety Alliance and their respective employees, officers, directors or agents (collectively the “WDSA”) assume no liability for or responsibility for any loss or damage suffered or incurred by any person arising from or in any way connected with the use of or reliance upon the information contained in this tailgate meeting guide including, without limitation, any liability for loss or damage arising from the negligence or negligent misrepresentation of any of the WDSA in any way connected with the information contained in this tailgate meeting guide. The information provided in this tailgate meeting guide is provided on an “as is” basis. WDSA does not guarantee, warrant, or make any representation as to the quality, accuracy, completeness, timeliness, appropriateness, or suitability of any of the information provided, and disclaims all statutory or other warranties, terms, or obligations of any kind arising from the use of or reliance upon the information provided, and assumes no obligation to update the information provided or advise on future developments concerning the topics mentioned. (12-2014) Winter Driving Safety Tailgate Meeting Guide Preparing to drive • Learn and practice how to brake safely, get out of a skid, and how your work vehicle handles in winter During the winter months, road hazards increase weather. significantly due to rain, snow, ice, and fog. • Dress comfortably and have warm clothing on hand The best way to stay safe is to always Know Before You Go. (winter boots, coat, gloves, and hat) in case you have to That means planning BEFORE you get behind the wheel. leave your vehicle. A few websites to help you plan your route: • Have an emergency survival kit and an emergency • DriveBC.ca: For the latest weather and road plan. If you get stuck or stranded, follow the company’s conditions, highway cams, and delay information. procedures. If you have a cell, call 911 if it’s an • B.C. Weather Warnings: Call toll-free 1-800-550-4997 emergency. Otherwise, call for roadside assistance. for 24-hour B.C. road information. A few minutes planning your route beforehand prevents Try to avoid driving when road and weather conditions problems when you’re on the road. It reduces your stress. are bad. If you have to drive, ask yourself if you can cancel It increases your safety. It’s smart driving. your trip, or delay it until the weather improves. Even an hour or two can make a difference. Know before you go. Before heading out: Once you’re behind the wheel: • Visit DriveBC.ca for current road conditions. • Avoid roads that become dangerous (black ice, hard packed snow, slush) during bad weather. Respect road • Visit ShiftIntoWinter.ca for tips on ways to prepare closure signs and barriers. yourself, your vehicle, and how to drive safely on winter roads. • Leave lots of time so you’re not rushing. Keep at least four seconds distance between you and the vehicle in front – in case you have to brake suddenly. Disclaimer. This tailgate meeting guide does not take the place of professional occupational health and safety advice and is not guaranteed to meet the requirements of applicable laws, regulations, and rules, including workplace health and safety laws and motor vehicle and traffic laws. The members of the Winter Driving Safety Alliance and their respective employees, officers, directors or agents (collectively the “WDSA”) assume no liability for or responsibility for any loss or damage suffered or incurred by any person arising from or in any way connected with the use of or reliance upon the information contained in this tailgate meeting guide including, without limitation, any liability for loss or damage arising from the negligence or negligent misrepresentation of any of the WDSA in any way connected with the information contained in this tailgate meeting guide.