Trucks
Trucks
With South Africa in the grips of winter, icy conditions and disruptive storms have swept through the country. Many serious road accidents have already been reported as a result of these extreme conditions, including several trucks that have skidded off roads or jackknifed.
With more winter storm systems expected to hit the country in the next few days and weeks, Volvo Trucks South Africa has issued an advisory to fleet owners operating during these challenging conditions.
“It is essential that we keep truck drivers and other road users safe even in the most extreme weather conditions,” said Waldemar Christensen, Managing Director of Volvo Trucks South Africa. “Fleet owners need to prepare their vehicles and their drivers to safely navigate through the snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. Prioritising safety and preparedness is key during the winter driving season.”
Inspect and maintain your truck: Before winter sets in, it is essential to conduct a thorough inspection and maintenance routine for your truck. This includes checking the battery, engine coolant, tyres, brakes, lights, and wipers. Regular maintenance ensures that your truck is in optimal condition to handle the challenges of winter weather.
Slow down: It is important to reduce speed and adapt to the changing weather conditions. By reducing your speed, you can compensate for poor traction caused by a snow or ice covered road surface. This will also give you more time to react if anything does go wrong and possibly avoid an accident.
Ensure your truck’s tyres are in good condition: Tyres in optimal condition and at the correct pressure, are vital to provide better traction and grip on icy and snowy roads. Tyres should be optimised for each vehicle and application, ensuring enhanced safety and performance in winter conditions. The correct tyres provide improved braking, cornering, and stability, reducing the risk of accidents.
Visibility: Winter weather often brings reduced visibility due to snow, fog, or darkness. This also means that your rig might not be visible to other road users. So always keep your headlights on. Certain trucks models offer enhanced visibility solutions, such as LED headlights, fog lights, and cornering lights, to improve visibility in adverse conditions. These features ensure that the driver can see and be seen, reducing the risk of accidents and enhancing overall safety.
Allow for extra space: The stopping distance on a wet roads can be up to double the normal stopping distance. That is why it is important to leave plenty of space between the truck and the vehicle or obstacle in front of you. This will also give you enough time to react and take preventative measures. Remember that most passenger vehicle drivers are not professionals and don’t necessarily know how to adjust their driving techniques to changing road conditions.
Be prepared. Heavy rainfall, flooding and snow can sometimes lead to road closures. So plan ahead and ensure that you have enough fuel for your truck, as well as food and water to keep you going if you ever have to overnight far from a truck stop or home base. Also remember to pack extra blankets and keep your phone charged.
Volvo Trucks, renowned for their commitment to safety and reliability, offers a range of features specifically designed to assist drivers in extreme winter weather. These have been developed and tested to operate in even the most extreme weather conditions, such as Sweden’s harsh winters.
Volvo Dynamic Steering: This innovative feature significantly enhances manoeuvrability and control, especially in challenging weather conditions. It provides precise steering assistance, reducing the effort required by the driver and improving stability. This feature is particularly beneficial when navigating through icy or slippery roads.
Driver Alert Support: For safe driving, you need to be alert and in good shape to drive. Driver Alert Support detects signs of drowsy or inattentive driving. If signs are detected, the driver is alerted and advised to take a break. If your truck doesn’t offer these features, ensure you rest as much a possible, as driving in extreme conditions is even more tiresome and stressful than normal driving.
Automatic Stretch Brake: Driving downhill with a trailer on a slippery surface could result in the trailer pushing the truck and causing a jackknife effect, increasing the risk of an accident. Automatic Stretch Brake can help prevent that by applying braking pulses to the trailer, which stretches out the vehicle combination to improve road safety.
Stability Assist: Volvo Dynamic Steering with Stability Assist is designed to detect if the truck starts to skid. It then immediately counter steers the truck to stabilise the vehicle combination and avert a dangerous situation.
Electronic Stability Control: Electronic Stability Control is designed to minimize the risk of skidding and rolling over. When the system detects a critical situation, it reduces engine power and applies the brakes to each wheel individually.
Collision Warning with Emergency Brake: Collision Warning with Emergency Brake is designed to detect vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians ahead as well as cyclists and pedestrians moving in the same direction as the truck. When a risk of collision is detected, the system alerts the driver. If the driver doesn’t take action while the risk remains, the truck automatically brakes to avoid a collision.
Leverage Volvo I-Shift with Crawler Gears: Volvo I-Shift with Crawler Gears is a transmission system that offers low-speed manoeuvrability and enhanced control in extreme conditions. This feature allows drivers to smoothly start and manoeuvre their trucks on slippery surfaces, such as icy roads or steep inclines. The Crawler Gears provide excellent startability, ensuring safe and efficient operation.
“Preparing your fleet for winter is essential to ensure safe and efficient operation in extreme weather conditions. By following the tips mentioned above and utilising the features available in the Volvo truck range, you can confidently navigate through the harshest winter weather,” explained Christensen. “Above all, no load is worth taking the risk of injury or your life. Stay safe!”
