With Turkey Day in your side view mirrors, truckers face ominous driving conditions beginning on Black Friday. That’s when more than 130 million shoppers descend on malls, retail outlets, and boutique stores. The flood of bargain hunters creates roadway congestion and backups. It also seems to bring a sleigh full of aggressive drivers venting their holiday season frustrations. With the holiday spirit in full swing, starting on Black Friday, these are a few things to consider.
- Safe Distance: Some safety experts say slowing down is an effective safe driving measure. For passenger vehicles, that certainly holds true. But truckers have a different issue to negotiate. Slowing down to create a safe space between you and the nearest vehicle seems to invite people who are weaving. When in heavy traffic, do your best to maintain safe distance. But manage the cushion in a way that doesn’t encourage cut-ins.
- Lane Changes: It’s also important to limit lane changes as New Year’s Eve grows closer. Motorists tend to get a little more antsy than usual, and few understand blind spots. Picking a lane and sticking to it may be annoying when there’s a driver traveling at the bottom of the posted speed limit ahead. But you can shift lanes and drive faster…. or get there.
- Drunk & Distracted: During the last five or six weeks of the season, the likelihood of encountering a drunk driver spikes. Approximately one-third of driving fatalities during the holidays involve alcohol. Truckers will also be coming across rushed shoppers trying to do a little driving while managing text messages. Keep a vigilant eye out for cars and SUVs that straddle white lines or appear to be weaving.
- Road Conditions: Winter might not be officially here until Dec. 21, but that doesn’t mean the highways, byways, and urban landscapes won’t have slick, icy surfaces. Truckers would be well-served to assume that not every municipality effectively sands, salts, or plows. That means you could encounter black ice soon after Black Friday.
- Weather Conditions: Anyone with a driver’s license living in northern states understands the inevitability of snow and ice covering roads. But a lesser-known fact is that fog occurs when cold air covers warm water or damp tracts of land. It’s advisable to slow down when approaching a fog bank because other drivers could be slowed to a near halt inside.
One of the best ways to get through the holiday trucking season is to practice patience. Motorists are going to let their stress and anxiety get the best of them at times. Fortunately, CDL holders are professionals. Just Breathe.
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