FEBRUARY 21, 2015
With more traffic on Oil Patch roads, driving can, at times,
be dangerous — especially when drivers are not familiar with others’ driving
styles.
Add ice, snow and low visibility to the mix, and a joy ride
can quickly change into a nightmare.
Oil production has increased the demand for semi trucks to
deliver cargo for various jobs. As seeing more semis becomes the norm for
western North Dakota’s highways and interstate, the possibility for more
accidents rises as well.
But truck instructors, like Merle Bobbit at Northern
Industrial Training in Dickinson, say the truckers aren’t always to blame. The
lack of knowledge passenger vehicle drivers have and their inexperience to
handle the changing conditions of North Dakota plays a major role, he said.
“They don’t know how to drive around a truck,” said Bobbit,
the CDL programs manager for the NIT North Dakota branch. “They either haven’t
been trained or they don’t understand how a truck reacts.”
Semis handle
differently
Semi drivers do contribute to some traffic accidents, but
research shows it is often the driver of the passenger vehicle, especially
young drivers ages 17-24, that unnecessarily endanger themselves by failing to
recognize trucks and cars handle differently on the road.
Almost 70 percent of traffic crashes involving large trucks
and passenger cars are the fault of the car driver, according to the Commercial
Vehicle Safety Alliance, an international non-profit organization that promotes
commercial vehicle safety across North America.
NIT offers classes for semi and passenger vehicle drivers.
One of those classes is winter driving for small vehicles, which is taught by
Diego Sanchez, the North Dakota safety programs manager at NIT.
People that come into his class sometimes think they can
drive like they would back where they came from, Sanchez said. But driving
styles in Florida, for example, are very different than in North Dakota, and
drivers must learn to adapt to their surroundings, Sanchez said.
“The oil industry draws people from everywhere,” he said.
“Particularly in my classroom, I have people that have never driven in snow.
They have never driven in cold weather.
“That’s dangerous. That’s scary.”
The legal weight for semis without oversize or overweight
permits is 80,000 pounds, according to the North Dakota Department of
Transportation. In comparison, the average passenger vehicle weighs in at about
5,000 pounds.
“(Semi drivers) are just as human as you are,” Sanchez said,
“but they are driving a bigger, heavier piece of equipment.”
More weight and body means more space is needed to maneuver
on the road. Most importantly, it means more time is needed to stop.
Depending on the weight and speed, a semi needs about 40
percent more time than a car to stop. Add in other factors — such as more
weight, slick roads and reaction time — and the length needed to stop can
increase dramatically.
Semi drivers also sit higher up than most vehicles and have
more blind spots, particularly along the sides of the semi and behind. Truck
drivers are constantly trying to manage their space, Bobbit said.
“Always assume somebody is going to do something they
shouldn’t,” Bobbit said.
If drivers don’t know how a semi reacts, they may do things
that can put others in danger. Cutting
off trucks, following too closely, staying in blind spots and having the wrong
attitude can cause unnecessary accidents, Bobbit and Sanchez said.
Weather changes fast
North Dakota is home temperamental weather. The state is the
world leader in temperature variation in a single year, recording a low of
minus-60 degrees in February 1936 and a high of 121 degrees in July 1936, a
swing of 181 degrees.
Dickinson has proven just how quickly the weather can
change. Mid-January brought subzero weather with wind chills pushing
temperatures to the negative 40s. In the last week of the same month, a heat
wave brought relief, and even helped Dickinson break two daily records. The
thermometer hit 51 degrees on Jan. 26, breaking a record set more than 80 years
ago. The next day, Dickinson saw the second record broken at 61 degrees.
February has also brought contradictory weather. Heavy fog
rolled into western North Dakota on Feb. 8, prompting dense fog advisories.
Freezing rain has also made roads slick.
“Any time there is a warm up in temperatures, where there is
any moisture that is beginning to thaw that comes back into the water form, and
then we see a rapid drop in temperature, my biggest tip is always assume the
roads are icy,” said Bill Fahlsing, director of emergency services for Stark
County. “You can’t necessarily see the ice.”
It’s important for drivers to be aware of changing
conditions, Fahlsing said.
“The National Weather Service website is the best resource
available,” he said. “They are going to be able to give a forecast for a
specific area.”
Drivers can also view the North Dakota Transportation
Department’s Travel Information Map by going to dot.nd.gov or by calling 511 to
check for road conditions. While it is an excellent tool, it’s not set in
stone.
“Just because it is showing that the roads are good doesn’t
mean that can’t change quickly,” said Holly Bloodsaw, deputy director of
emergency services for Stark County. “The biggest thing is to use common sense.
If the roads don’t look good to drive on, just take that precaution.”
Fahlsing said travelers should check the road conditions and
weather not only in the surrounding area but also around their destination. He
added if drivers are going alone, they should tell someone.
“Follow up with that person, so that if that individual
doesn’t hear from you in an appropriate amount of time, they can try to contact
emergency service,” he said.
Travelers should also have an emergency kit in their vehicle,
especially during the winter months. There may be times when a driver has to
stop or becomes stuck in a storm. Having a fully charged phone, survival items
and a full tank of gas can save a life if a driver has to sit tight for a few
hours before help arrives.
Learning how to be a good driver comes with experience.
But the best way to avoid an accident is to use common
sense, be aware of surroundings and be a defensive driver, Bobbit and Sanchez
said. Drivers, both in semis and smaller vehicles, should try to anticipate
what others will do.
“You can sit people in a classroom,” he said. “I personally
believe it comes with time and experience.”
But if there is any doubt, the best thing to do, Sanchez and
Bobbit said, is to ease off the gas pedal and give others the space they need —
especially semi drivers.
“If you don’t feel comfortable driving in these conditions,
slow down,” Sanchez said.
Be prepared
Accidents happen. In North Dakota, the weather changes
rapidly. While drivers can’t always anticipate the weather, they can be
prepared. Here are some tips to prepare your car for winter driving.
— Make sure antifreeze levels are sufficient.
— Batteries should be in top condition and clean.
— Check brakes for wear and fluid levels.
— Exhaust systems should be free of leaks and crimps to
avoid carbon monoxide back up.
— For long trips, have a full tank in case you need to stop
along the road.
— Ensure the heater and defroster are working properly.
— Lights and flash signals should be working properly.
— Tires should be properly filled with air and have proper
threading. Tire chains may be needed in certain conditions.
— Make sure all aspects of the car are in working condition.
— Carry a winter survival kit that is supplied adequately. A
suggested list of items to have on hand can be found at http://www.starkcountynd.gov/des.
Source: North Dakota Department of Emergency Services