Figure 5-5.—How to exit an expressway safely.5. Ensure your vehicle is safe to operate theremainder of your shift.Check your physical condition. You, as the operator,have to be honest with yourself. Are you physically ableto drive or operate the equipment for the remainder ofthe shift? Any mishap you have on the public road or onthe jobsite that affects the community reflects negativelynot only yourself, but the Navy as well. Stay alert whendriving or operating. Be a good representative.DRIVING UNDER HAZARDOUSCONDITIONSDriving under hazardous conditions requiresspecial skills and your undivided attention. Thefollowing paragraphs contain some guidelines intendedto make you a good operator under adverse drivingconditions.SNOW AND ICESnow and ice severely limit the traction of a vehicle.When you are moving over fresh snow, maintain a slow,steady speed. Rapid acceleration is likely to causeskidding or cause the wheels to dig in. Should yourvehicle become stuck in a hole in the snow, rocking itback and forth by shifting from forward to reverse mayenable you to start again. Brakes, when used, should beapplied lightly and released quickly if skidding begins.Hard-packed snow or ice is more dangerous to driveon than fresh snow. To increase traction, put chains onall driving wheels. Snow tires are not much help on ice,as they add little or no traction and give you a falsefeeling of security. Deflating the tires a bit assists inpreventing skidding.Snow and ice affect visibility, stopping distance,maneuverability, and vehicle control. For driving undersuch conditions, you should take the followingprecautions:1.2.3.4.5.6.Adjust the speed of the vehicle to existingconditions.Under normal conditions, allow at least one carlength between vehicles for each 10 miles perhour (mph) of speed you are traveling at.Increase the normal safe distance betweenvehicles to allow for hazardous conditions.Use tire chains or snow tires on ice or snow;however, remember that they are only an aid toincrease traction and do not eliminate thenecessity for added caution.Slow down when approaching bridges,overpasses, and shady areas in the road; surfacesin such areas often freeze before regularroadway surfaces do and remain frozen longer.Keep the outside of the windshield and windowsclear of snow, ice, and frost at all times, and usethe vehicle defroster to improve visibility. Turnon headlight and use extreme caution whendriving in fog.Apply brakes with a light pumping action toprevent skidding and use engine compression tohelp control the vehicle.5-5
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