Page 70 - Driving Commercial Vehicles Manual

driving commercial vehicles

• Reduce your speed to suit ice or snow conditions. Put on chains if
driving tip necessary.

• Apply light pressure to your brake. Avoid moving the steering wheel in a
Make sure you know how
to use your vehicle’s heater quick or erratic manner.
and defroster controls. • Keep your windows and windshields clear, inside and out. Maintain wiper
Some heater defrosters blades and lights in good working order. Use the heater/defroster controls
have a position to allow for
recirculating the air in the to avoid windows fogging. Be sure you can see and be seen.
vehicle’s interior. But don’t • Be sure your ventilation is good and your exhaust system has no leaks.
use this position in cold
weather — it can cause • Stay alert for hazards ahead of your vehicle, including pedestrians, cyclists,
windows to fog up. ice patches, bridge surfaces, blind intersections, snow plows and graders.

Night driving
You can’t see as far in the dark. Travel at a speed that allows you to stop
within the distance you can see — even if it’s below the posted speed limit.
Most headlights illuminate the highway for only 100 m on high beam and less
on low beam. Poor weather, glare and fatigue will reduce how far you can see.
Adjust your speed for the conditions.
Even when you travel at the legal speed you can overrun your lights. For
example, a large, loaded truck travelling on a highway at 80 km/h can take
more than 100 m to stop — further than your high beams will allow you to
see under good conditions. Slow down to ensure you can see problems
developing in time to stop.
Some tips for driving at night:

• Reduce your speed after sunset. Remember, your vision isn’t as efficient as
it is in daylight.
• Ensure your lights are clean and working — see and be seen.

• Use parking lights only for parking. It’s illegal to drive at night using only
parking lights.
• Switch your lights from high beam to low beam at least 150 m away from
any vehicle you’re approaching or following to reduce glare on the eyes of
other drivers.
• Don’t flash your lights at drivers who forget to switch their lights from high
beam to low beam. Instead, slow down and focus your eyes on the right
edge of the road to watch for pedestrians and obstacles.

These two vehicles are
approaching each other at
night in opposite directions
with their lights on low beam.

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