Summer brings new dynamics to the highways, and whether this is your first summer sitting behind the wheel or you’ve been there a while, it’s important to get your mind right for the task. That’s because summer, arguably, comes with more driving risks than any other time of the year, even winter with its icy, snowy, foggy and bone-chillingly cold conditions. The sheer numbers of cars and trucks that are on the roads every day in a nation that already is ranked as the most traffic-congested in the world makes summer driving much more complex and unpredictable.
Here, as a thoughtful reminder to professional drivers, are some tips for safer and more enjoyable summer driving.
Take care of yourself physically.
The most important piece of equipment or technology on any truck is the driver. If he or she is not in good shape for summer driving a serious incident could be just around the corner. So, remember to:
- Protect your eyes. Invest in a good pair of anti-glare sunglasses. Not only will they improve your ability to see vehicles and objects all around you on bright sunny days, they’ll also reduce the strain on your eyes and eye muscles and help fight, fatigue, neck and back pain, and eye strain-caused headaches.
- Drink a lot of water. Truck drivers are exposed to sunlight for up to 18 hours a day, both in the seat and in the sleeper. That causes the body to use precious fluids to stay cool, even when it’s getting a big assist from a great AC unit. That means drivers need to drink lots of water or sports drinks not only while they’re driving but, just as importantly, in the hours and days before they’re to drive. Once a driver gets behind the hydration curve it’s nearly impossible to drink enough to catch back up during a single day.
- Dress properly. Lightweight, comfortable clothing is more important than many drivers realize. The intensity of the sun and its dangerous UV rays can sap a driver’s strength and burn his or her skin in just a few minutes while he or she is outside of their rig securing a load, checking on its operating condition, or attending to minor repairs. Even if you don’t like wearing a hat while driving, keep one handy for use when outside the cab.
Take care of your rig.
The high heat and congested roads of summer put enormous strains on your truck, on your tires, on your safety straps, and on other equipment that contain oil-based chemicals that stretch or wear down in high heat. It’s critical that you make sure everything is still in working order.
- Check your tires. Daily, or even several times a day, check for proper inflation. An under-inflated tire is more apt to suffer a blowout, which can be dangerous, annoying, costly, and time-wasting — not to mention a real pain when you’re stuck on the side of the road with the mercury climbing near triple digits.
- Inspect your rubberized belts, seals, and other components. They are similarly stressed by heat. Check them daily for size of wear.
- Keep your truck hydrated, too. High summer temps put a strain on all truck systems, and that can cause those systems to spring leaks or to unexpectedly begin using more fluids than normal. So, check all fluid levels every time you fill up or at the start of your work day (at least).
Avoid or properly plan for congestion.
Clearly, being smart during the summer is critical, and that includes only being on the road as long as you have to be. Technology gives you ways to do that.
- Use your truck’s GPS-based systems and other technologies. Plan the best way around known highway choke points or, at the very least, make a plan for handling unavoidable congestion as efficiently as possible.
- Adjust delivery schedules and routings. Keep from driving through the most heavily traveled areas at their peak travel times by working with your dispatchers and onboard technologies. It’ll reduce your exposure to both traffic risk and truck breakdown risk.
- Keep your options open. You can’t always know about traffic backups in advance. Familiarize yourself with your route before you start so that you’ll have a good idea of what detours you might be able to take advantage of should the need arise.