Safety Newsletter – April 2024
Staying Safe Rain or Shine
Avoiding Injuries, Incidents, and Accidents during April Showers and Daylights Savings
It’s Springtime! Which means warmer weather, longer days, and much rainfall. Though Springtime invites more flowers, plants, sunlight, outdoor activities, it can also create less than ideal driving conditions. As drivers you want to make sure you’re prepared for this seasonal change. Here are some pointers on how to keep you and your vehicle safe.
Equipment
- Before riding off you want to make sure your headlights and windshield wipers are operating correctly. You’ll want to get out and check the tread on your tires and that your mud flaps are on securely.
- Keep your headlights on to make your vehicle more visible to other drivers and continuously use your windshield wipers until the rain has subsided.
Unpaved grounds and Standing Water
- Avoid driving off paved surfaces unless it is 100% necessary. If your trailer gets stuck in the mud it can cause indefinite delays and high expenses.
- Keep an eye out for puddles and standing water. Both can be deceiving and could be covering soft ground or potholes.
- GOAL: Get Out And Look! – A sunken trailer in the mud or a flat tire because of a water filled pot hole can all be avoided if you just take the time to look at the surroundings.
Dress for safety and take your time
- Make sure to wear non-slip boots.
- Walk, don’t run, when transporting materials
- Make sure you have visibility as to where you are going when you get out of the truck or trailer
- Always dry off your footwear after coming in from the rain to avoid slipping or falling on smooth services.
Protect your vision on the road
- The sun now sets earlier in the day which means that you may have a hard time seeing the road while driving. We suggest investing in polarized sunglasses. They can help reduce glare during sunrise and sundown.
- Use your sun visor. It can help to block out the sun.
- Leave more following room. When the sun is in your eyes, you can struggle to see what the car ahead is doing. This is one more time when it pays to leave more room between you and the next vehicle.