March Safety Letter
As we turned the page
on February and have moved quickly into the month of March,
the signs of springtime will soon be setting in upon us.
It’s always amazing to me how quickly we move from one
season to the next. Old man Winter has gave us all a
refresher course this season on our winter weather driving!
It’s been many years since winter weather has been as
relentless and challenging as it has been these past months.
I would like to start
by thanking each of you for all your hard work and
dedication to safety during these past months.
Taking the extra time, despite colder temperatures to
inspect your vehicles to insure their safe operation;
working through the cold to insure your loads are properly
secured and with an attitude of commitment and pride in the
work that you do.
As the dawn of spring
time prepares to shine upon us, I want to take this
opportunity also to pass along a few simple reminders of
things that come with a change in season. While this winter
rather harsh to us let it not creates within us a sense of
complacency in the onset of spring. Each change of season
brings its own unique and inherent dangers and conditions
particular to the safety sensitive nature of our job.
With the change in
temperatures, it is important to remember that seasonal
changes affect the performance of you vehicle – keep this in
mind as you do your daily inspections, keeping
a close eye on your fluid levels, particular
anti-freeze as the warmer temps will place an
increase demand on your vehicle to perform as well as the
demand we will place upon it to provide a cooler working
environment as we run the air conditioner.
Keep a close
watch on your unit’s belts also making sure they are
properly adjust, not worn, frayed, or cracked as well
as tire inflation and condition on your truck and
trailer. As always, report any such maintenance issues or
concerns immediately so that they may be repaired
BEFORE they become an issue somewhere along the
road.
With warmer weather
also comes a change in the volume and performance of the
motoring public in general. As weather conditions continue
to usher in warmer days, motorcycles will begin to return in
increasing numbers to the flow of traffic. And
unfortunately so, many motorcyclists take extreme risks in
the excitement of returning to the highways and push the
envelope of safety in areas of speed.
Also remember that
motorists in general relax their driving posture when the
threat of inclement weather subsides. As warmer, dryer days
increase, motorists become complacent and comfortable with
dry pavement and their willingness to assume higher risk in
negotiating traffic will increase.
But spring is not without its share of weather related
concerns. Particularly dangerous and often taken for
granted is the fact that after many days / weeks of dry
weather, a springtime shower cannot only prove to dampen the
day, but will also create hazardous driving conditions equal
to that of a winter snow fall. The oil and dirt mixtures
collected on dry pavement will, upon rainfall, create slick
roadways.
While you, as a
professional driver may have this in the forefront of your
mind, the motoring public around you often takes this for
granted.
Returning also with the
warmer weather is the frequent favorable conditions for
severe weather such as thunderstorms, hail and tornadic
activity. Be prepared for this and adjust your driving
habits appropriately. Heavy rainfall, high winds and
lightning can be as adversely dangerous, if not more so than
newly fallen snow. Have a plan in place for these spring
time dangers. Know what to do should you need
to find shelter from an impending springtime storm.
Any finally, with
springtime comes an increase in the number of children
at play in the outdoors. Be extra mindful of
this as you navigate the city streets. A stray ball
bouncing down the street is often followed by a playful
child who is game-fully unaware of the dangers moving about
him in his pursuit of springtime bliss. Cars parked along
the roadways can also obscure a child from your view.
As the gray shades of
winter yield way to springtime foliage and trees begin to
fill with leaves and the grass grows greener, keep in mind
that the landscape alters. The roads you have traveled
throughout natures barren months of winter will begin to
blossom with the new life of spring and can obstruct your
view in differing ways. Signs may become obscured; path of
travel and line of sight views may become decreased.
As always, the burden
of responsibility for safety weighs in heavily upon the
professional driver, not only for yourself and the load you
are carrying, but for the public on the move about you.
Although we may breathe a sigh of relief that winter is
drifting behind us, we must remain every vigilant in
our pursuit of safety as we welcome and enjoy the
beauty and warmth of the spring season.
Drive Safely,
