Greetings, Fleet Safety Pros,
If December has had a theme so far, it might be this. Winter does not ease in quietly. It arrives with volume, percussion, and a steady rhythm that sets the tempo for every drive. Think Little Drummer Boy goes heavy metal.
Here in Washington State, where NTSI is headquartered, the last two weeks brought multiple atmospheric rivers through the region, resulting in flooding, road closures, school disruptions, and long, slow commutes across Western Washington.
For fleet drivers, this was not a weather headline or a background inconvenience. It was windshield-level reality and a clear reminder of why Fleet Winter Safety matters on real roads. We also know that Washington is not alone in dealing with pounding rains and life threatening flooding. Inclement weather dangers abound this time of year.
Which makes this week’s Fleet Tuesday Tip a natural continuation of where we have been all month, reinforcing Fleet Winter Safety alongside “Holiday Season Law Enforcement Driver Safety Tips” and “Fleet Winter Safety: Top December Driving Tips.”
In our Tuesday Tip focused on law enforcement driver safety, we discussed and reinforced the importance of slowing down, moving over, and making space.
Before that, we delved into Winter fleet driving, highlighting how rain, cold, and darkness change traction, visibility, and reaction time.
This week brings those ideas together, shaped by real world inclement weather and reinforced by examples of safety messaging done right, and done hilariously. What better way to get a message across, and have it stick, than with humor and excellent advice.
If you do not already, you should follow your state’s local DOT for updates and local tidbits and tips. Now, they may not be as fabulous as the Washington State DOT (and if they are, please send me a link to share!), but as these torrential storms caused by back-to-back atmospheric rivers continued to roll through the region, we found ourselves giggling and nodding along with several short safety videos from Washington State DOT.
Why does NTSI love our Washington State DOT TikTok so much?
Well, first it proves that social media can be used for good, and also because their approach feels familiar to us at NTSI Fleet. Practical. Behavior centered. Focused on the driver. And yes, occasionally (hopefully!) funny and relevant in a way that actually helps the message land.
One recent laugh out loud short, while fully embracing the Hallmark treacle that comes this time of year, also reinforces something NTSI Fleet emphasized earlier this month.
When conditions deteriorate and roadside activity increases, the safest move is often the simplest one. Slow down. Move over. Make space. It is the same principle whether you are passing emergency responders, maintenance crews, disabled vehicles in heavy rain, or running into your old hometown flame, the snowplow, in the wildest rom-com seen this season.
Another clip trades romance for James Bond and reminds you that while technically anything can be a boat, unless it is a submersible Lotus Esprit S1, once you try to turn your car into a boat, there is a really high probability it will never go back to being a car again. These are the same fundamentals we teach every day in NTSI fleet defensive driving training, but with a soundtrack to die for. Because driving into flooded roads can actually lead to death, just listen to the music, follow DOT guidelines, and do not die.
And one last video we want to share lifts the curtain on who is behind this hilarious Washington State DOT TikTok account. In the midst of mini snowplows and funny voices, it speaks to the road we all drive on when working to keep drivers SAFER, and that road is an honor and privilege to serve you every day, no matter the cargo, the vehicle (and we are very pro snowplow!), or the driver. We are proud to support SAFER drivers here in Washington State and across the nation.
And it would not be a NTSI Fleet Tuesday Tip without some Fleet Winter Safety Tips for Inclement Weather Driving:
First, space matters more than ever in Fleet Winter Safety. In sustained heavy rain, following distances that feel generous on dry pavement can suddenly feel inadequate. Spray from other vehicles reduces visibility, braking distances increase, and reaction windows shrink. Slowing slightly and increasing space buys time, options, and calm. In defensive driving, calm is currency.
Second, standing water deserves respect. Recent flooding made it clear how quickly water can overwhelm roadways. Standing water hides debris, damaged pavement, and uneven surfaces, and it dramatically increases hydroplaning risk, particularly for vans and high profile fleet vehicles. If lane markings disappear or the road surface feels uncertain, speed needs to come down or routes need to change; unless, of course, you are James Bond.
Third, predictability is a defensive driving skill. Early signals, smooth lane changes, and deliberate movements help everyone around you make better decisions. This matters most near roadside responders, maintenance crews, and disabled vehicles, where conditions are already compromised. It is the fleet version of holiday etiquette, but with less fruitcake, more foresight.
As Winter continues to test roadways across Washington State and beyond, we want to say this one more time, loudly and proudly: it is an honor to serve fleet drivers here in Washington State and in every state in this great nation.
The work fleet drivers do continues regardless of weather, and your commitment to Fleet Winter Safety and defensive driving protects communities, coworkers, and families and we salute you.
Until next Tuesday, stay mindful, stay good humored, and keep your fleet rolling SAFER all season long.
