Winter can be a dangerous time to be on the road, even for the most experienced truck drivers out there. The fact of the matter is that safe winter driving begins before the snow starts to fly. When traveling in colder climates, you must always be aware and ready for whatever you might encounter. Yes, much of what you need to know about winter safety is common sense, but many drivers start their journeys when the weather is warm and nice and then suddenly end up in a vicious snow storm.Big Truck Hoods, your source for aftermarket truck bumpers, wants you to have a safe and productive winter. Here are a few tips on staying safe this winter. Don’t Be Afraid to Stop While not always ideal, sometimes things get so bad that the best move is to not move at all. Roads do get shut down when the weather is bad and you might have to stop for some time anyway. If you do decide to stop and wait it out, be careful where you park. If you can safely drive to a rest spot or motel, good for you. If you can’t and must stop on the side of the road, make your presence perfectly clear with flashers, cones and emergency triangles so people know you are there. Slow Down Pressing down on the gas pedal in bad weather isn’t going to get you to your destination any quicker. As a matter of fact, speeding up in poor conditions only puts you and others at risk of injury or worse. When roads get wet and slick, there is less traction, which makes it more difficult to navigate and stop. To keep yourself and everybody else on the road safe, slow down when encountering bad road conditions. Be especially careful on exit ramps and bridges as they are definitely trouble spots. Inspect Your Truck Before you set off on your trip, inspect your truck for any problems. For example, low visibility is the cause of a lot of accidents, so make sure all of your lights are properly functioning and are not covered in dirt or mud.Part of your pre-trip inspection should include ensuring that you have packed the necessary supplies for winter driving. Make sure you have extra food and water handy, a coat, gloves and other winter gear and make sure you have your phone charger, a flashlight and extra batteries.Should you become stranded due to inclement weather, you will want to be fully prepared. Check the Weather Before you hit the road, check the weather for your route. It might be nice where you are right now, but there could be a storm brewing at your destination. Map out the routes you will take in case you run into bad weather. Watch for Black Ice Black ice is a thin layer of transparent ice that forms when temperatures are close to freezing. Often, black ice only looks like water on the road, so you need to be careful. Be especially wary on bridges and over shady spots. Give Yourself Extra Space You will want to ensure you have plenty of room in front of you and behind you to move out of harm’s way in the event of an emergency. So increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Be Smooth When you are driving in hazardous conditions, try to refrain from doing anything sudden. For example, you will want to avoid sudden braking, sudden acceleration and sudden cornering. The key to driving in adverse conditions is to remain constant in your speed and actions. Watch the Tire Spray Keep an eye on the water coming off of your tires and the tires of vehicles around you. If there is a lot of spray, the roads are obviously wet. If the spray slows, it means that the water is turning to ice and you need to slow down. Let There Be Light Visibility is quite poor when the weather is bad, so don't forget to turn on your headlights, even if it is in the middle of the day. Stay safe this winter and visit Big Truck Hoods for your next truck hood or aftermarket truck bumper.