Weather Advisory Road Conditions for Southern New Mexico Las Cruces - The District One office for the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) along with law enforcement, and emergency responders will be monitoring roadway as weather conditions as they continue until late this evening Thursday January 22, 2015. Snow fall accumulations from 3-5 inches have hampered driving conditions for southern New Mexico. The National Weather Service is reporting that temperatures will drop to freezing conditions, which will develop into hazardous driving conditions as roadways and bridges freeze over. Trent Doolittle, P.E., NMDOT District One Engineer, stated that “the NMDOT has crews out in full force with snow removal operations, and is encouraging motorists to proceed with extreme caution should they need to travel.” The Dona Ana Office of Emergency Management will be monitoring conditions, and are prepared to assist with shelters and staging areas should a need arise. Traffic updates will be posted on the NMDOT traffic advisory web-site at nmroads as they are reported, and can be retrieved through our automated system at 511 in state, or 1-800-432-4269. Winter weather driving tips: REDUCE YOUR SPEED The best accident prevention on snow and ice is to SLOW DOWN and leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front of you for emergencies. PRACTICE GOOD WINTER DRIVING TECHNIQUES Keep your gas tank full, turn on your head lights, keep your windshield washer fluid full with antifreeze, keep winter driving chains in your vehicle, have a winter survival kit which includes – flashlight, hand warmer packets, first aid supplies, high energy snacks, bottled water and read your owner’s manual for special instructions on driving 4-wheel drive vehicles and vehicles with ABS on snow and ice. AVOID DRIVING INTO A SNOW CLOUD Large vehicles, such as semi-trailer trucks and snow plows, may produce dense clouds of blowing snow that make it difficult for drivers to see. When drivers encounter snow clouds, they should stay back to avoid the cloud. PLAN AHEAD AND BE PATIENT Delays are common during bad weather. Leave a little early and be patient with delays. CHECK BEFORE YOU PASS Know where a snow plow and blade are before trying to pass. On multi-lane highways, the plow can be in your blind spot. Before attempting to pass make sure it is safe. PAY ATTENTION TO WEATHER FORCASTS – TRUST THEM Winter storms in New Mexico can become severe very quickly, so stay tuned to weather forecasts when planning your trip. DON’T USE CRUISE CONTROL Never use cruise control when the roads are in slippery conditions. Using your cruise control can reduce your control of the vehicle if your tires begin to skid or slip. KNOW YOUR CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS Visit the NMDOT website for current road advisory information at nmroads, or dial 511. WEAR YOUR SEATBELT Wear your seatbelt and make sure all passengers also “buckled up.”
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 20:09:11 +0000
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