Safe Winter Driving Near Large Trucks Can Prevent an Iowa Truck Accident

Although not every day in winter is treacherous for driving, there are days when freezing rains coat Iowa roads with ice and blowing snow can obscure the vision of drivers on the road. When this happens, car and truck accidents in Eastern Iowa may occur due to these unavoidable risks.
Because you will most likely have to travel next to a tractor-trailer at some point during the winter months, you should know how to drive next to a truck in order to reduce your chances of being involved in a Cedar Rapids truck accident this winter.
AAA recommends the following tips for safe winter driving, including:

• Be cautious and drive more slowly in adverse weather.
• Do not drive when you are tired.
• Avoid using cruise control when driving on ice and slippery surfaces.
• Buckle up every time you drive.
• Always make sure your tires are inflated properly and in good condition. 
• Be aware of weather conditions before traveling for long road trips.
• Clean snow off of windshields in order to see clearly.
• Accelerate slowly in the snow to avoid skidding out.
• Remember it takes longer to stop in icy conditions.
• Increase following distances.
• Use your headlights.
• Stay home if you don’t have to drive in the snow.

Everything you do – stopping, turning, accelerating – takes longer in snowy conditions. Remember to slow down and give yourself time to get to where you are going. If you find yourself behind a tractor-trailer, stay safely behind it until it is safe to pass. Remember that a trucker driver has a limited field of vision.
If you do everything right and still get injured in a tractor-trailer accident in Iowa, you should call a skilled Cedar Rapids truck accident attorney to learn about your rights. You can reach the Law Offices of Brady & O’Shea at (319) 866-9277 for a free legal consultation.