Drive to Conditions Texas Department of Transportation Winter Weather Driving Tips Winter weather in Texas can be extremely unpredictable, and these quickly changing conditions can present unique challenges and dangers for drivers. The number of Texas motor vehicle traffic crashes totaled 111,238 during the winter months (December 2013, January 2014, and February 2014). These crashes resulted in 793 fatalities and almost 20,000 injuries (incapacitating and non-incapacitating). Motorists should be prepared for any type of driving condition as they travel around the state this winter. Drivers are encouraged to listen to weather forecasts and check Texas highway conditions at drivetexas.org before traveling. Wearing a seat belt also is one of the best steps drivers and passengers can take to protect themselves in any driving condition. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) offers the following tips to help drivers adapt to road conditions often seen during the winter months. Driving in Winter Weather • Drive slowly, with cruise control turned off and using smooth steering movements. It’s harder to control or stop your vehicle on a slick or snow-covered surface. • Increase your following distance to allow plenty of time to stop for vehicles ahead. • Accelerate and brake gently using slow, steady strokes to test traction. Approach turns slowly. • Use extra caution on bridges, ramps, overpasses and shaded areas, as they tend to freeze first. If you find yourself in a skid, stay calm and ease your foot off the gas while carefully steering into the direction of the skid until you regain traction. Driving in Heavy Rain/Flood-Prone Areas • Never attempt to drive through flooded roadways. It takes only two feet of water to float a 3,000-pound car. • Be cautious when traveling through flood-prone areas. Flash floods can come rapidly and unexpectedly -- within a few minutes or hours of excessive rainfall. • Turn on your headlights and slow down, allowing extra distance for braking. Driving in Fog • Turn on your lights, including your hazard lights. Use low beam headlights and fog lights if you have them. Do not use high beams. • Slow down and do not drive faster than your field of vision. Use windshield wipers and defroster to maximize visibility. • Increase following distance to ensure enough stopping distance. When using your brakes, don’t stop suddenly. • Use the right edge of the road or roadside reflectors as a guide. If you cannot see, pull completely off the road -- preferably at a rest area or truck sto p -- and turn on your hazard flashers immediately. TxDOT reminds you to Be Safe. Drive Smart. Visit txdot.gov for more information and check us out on Facebook at facebook/TxDOT. Information contained in this report represents reportable data collected from Texas Peace Officers Crash Reports (CR-3) received and processed by the Department as of Dec. 8, 2014.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 22:07:31 +0000
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