whiteouts

This is real good advice. In winter you need to extend that sight line to a mile or as far as you can so you not only have an idea of how the road runs but also what traffic is ahead of you. A more "common" whiteout is when you run up on a snowplow or two. I try to slow down and take a real good look at things like how far apart they're running, how fast they're going and such before attempting to pass.

When dealing with a "natural" whiteout, remember that chances are pretty good there's snowdrifts in there so get a good solid grip on that steery wheel. This is what causes spinouts/jackknifes in 90% of cases. A good rule of thumb is use the lane farthes away from the direction the wind's blowing..... drifts are typically thinner there.

Bear in mind too that we are a rolling whiteout to every vehicle we pass.

 

Everyone here has given good advice. Most importantly slowing down is a critical maneuver that you as a driver have control over. If you do get out of shape and have the time you can apply a little air pressure to the trailer and it might straighten you out. But again, going slow is the best you can do.

 

All good suggestions. I would echo what Kabar said. Keep that picture of the road in your mind before the passing truck whites you out. Hopefully you aren't traveling on any two lane roads when this happens.

In the storm before Christmas I was going slow up a two lane road from Kansas City to Council bluffs and a Fed-ex double whipped out in the opposing lane and blew by blinding me for I don't know how long. Maybe 5-6 seconds which seemed longer. What made it worse is that you could not see the stripes on the road before it passed, only a general outline from previous traffic. But that was snow, not ice. As a rule, I won't drive on ice empty (or at any time if possible: there is ice and then there's ice) but I know some companies make you drive until the roads are closed.

 

If your checking the mirrors you know it's comming.
Like everyone already said steer straight and know the road for the next 8 - 10 seconds.

This being said, if you can keep the speed constant it would be better as someone who keeps slowing/braking on snow/ice will be overtaken, it scares the crap out of me if someone keeps hitting the brakes in front of me like that, even though I have my following distance I want to keep my speed constant and a pull on my trailer.