A Former Plow Drivers Take on Winter Driving
A Montana Winter driving from a former plow Driver:
This is my and my alone opinion act accordingly
After a Few seasons of running a highway plow I have seen a few things and want to pass them on to you.
Without further ado
Vehicle:
o Tires, Winter tires are preferred but all season tires do ok, make sure they have good tread nearly ¼ inch or more is ideal
o Fluids check coolant level condition to make sure it wont freeze, oil level and winter grade washer fluid
o Wipers should be replaced every fall with winter wipers for maximum slush removal
o Check light operation
o Chains, find out if you can run chains on your vehicle, purchase and learn how to install them, this step is much easier on concrete when it is dry and warm. ( my chains go under the backseat so they are not frozen when I need them)
o Get your battery load tested and replaced if marginal
o Consider a block heater
o Find your tow points and tow hook. Often on modern cars and Suvs the tow point is down by the spare and inaccessible when you need it. Find it and put it in a door pocket or glove box so it is accessible
o Tow rope and shackle (kinetic rope is best rated for your rig) also learn how to attach it to your tow hook and purchase what you need. Tacoma Screw has all the rigging you need (chain without brain is bad and deadly)
o Consider a 12v tire pump too it’s a lot easier to put air in a tire than change one when its cold.
o Good shovel Get the best shovel you can fit. Dirt shovels are great
o Wire cutters
o Learn how to disable traction control
o Bag of sand
o Cellphone chargers and phones
Comfort and survival
o Pack a bag to keep in your vehicle of blankets, Warm Clothes, Water and food. (I recommend high calorie foods that last a long time such as candy bars with nuts and induvial packaging) Good Socks and boots, think outdoor work in the cold and pack that.
o A basic tool kit helps even if you are not capable of fixing much a good Samaritan might be!
o High visibility vest are cheap and good to wear on the side of the road.
o Learn how to manually turn on your headlights and turn them on manually whenever it is snowing or foggy this one simple step on a bright snowy day doubles your visibilty
Driving habits
o Keep your gas tank above half tank. Idling is the best way to stay warm when stuck.
o Clear all the snow from your car.
o Clean lights at every stop. Modern LEDs don’t melt off like incandescent did
o Put the phone away, hands free is best.
o Turn the cruise control off if it has snowed since you last new the road was perfectly clear and it is below freezing
o Do Not use your 4 ways when moving so you are more visible, yes it helps now but in the long term it desensitizes drivers from flashing lights and people don’t slow down for them any more putting plow drivers, and first responders at greater risk.
o Slow down and give flashing lights space to work
o Don’t crowd the plow give them space to work especially in the accident scene that plow is going to turn the road brown as much as he can your going to get hit.
o If you do get stopped in traffic on snow get over and make a path for the plow the faster he gets thru the faster the problem goes away.
o If it is a big multi car pile up and smooth flatish shoulders head for the fence get some distance between you and the meat grinder
o It is much easier to chain in a parking lot than the ditch
Plow Truck facts
o If you are complaining about plow lights being to bright to the rear you are following to close. Plow drivers want to be seen and green light is not natural and carries best thru snow clouds.
o If you don’t like the yellow plow lights just remember bright lights coming at you are better than a plow in the ditch, slow down and deal with it.
o You know the fatigue after driving in poor condition, yeah that, plow drivers do that for 12 hours a day the duration of the storm without breaks or the benefit of a plowed road. Give them grace and a thanks when you see them at the gas station.
o Don’t pass a plow on the right or in the cloud. Around here the farthest a plow will ever travel is park city to reed point its 35 miles and wont kill your time.
o Unless you are a semi the plow will win in the accident if you hit them.
o Broken plows are not effective plows as they are not out. Don’t hit them
o In the worst conditions a plow drivers visibility is worse than yours so give him room.
o A plow is 16 feet wide with both plows down at weights that would shock most people.
o They sand as needed, sand does not stick to roads that are cold with traffic as the sand just blows off.
o They are out, they are just busy, when the police sign in for the morning the plow has been out for a couple of hours.
o Plows monitor fire, ems and their own dispatch radios to be as effective as possible.
o Plows are not first responders their job is keep traffic moving but will call in accidents as the see them.
o 511 is actually updated please understand the a plow driver updates it, but they are constantly driving the conditions so they are used to them and tend to report as a professional driver used to the conditions in the very heaviest rig on 3 axles.
o
Stuck
o Look around make sure everyone is safe and unhurt.
o Attempt to back out.
o Rock your vehicle if you can move at all disabling traction control will help as you will not loose power as soon as you get moving.
o If you are still stuck ensure traction control is off at the end of the rock opposite the way out. Stop catch your breathe and get ready, in the exact opposite move the driving people tell you shift and put your foot on the floor and give it all your rig has the extra power and momentum might get you unstuck. Don’t let off till all hope is abandoned or you are back up on the road. At this point you are already calling for help if this does not work so its worth a try and works quite well.
o Dress warm and shovel out around and under stay dry and warm hypothermia is real and comes on fast when you get wet.
o Try again.
o Put your chains on.
o Try again
o If you are safe and in no danger and still need a tow refuse the law enforcement tow as when they call they call in rotation and the tow company is required to come fast and they charge accordingly. Only do this if you are comfortable and safe. If you are a hazard it is not worth your life to save a few bucks.
o Keep your exhaust pipe and hood clear of snow to allow heat to work the best.