(AMA Guide) Winter Weather Safety: Travel

If you can stay home, stay home. If you have to drive, slow down, check conditions first, and give yourself more time than you think you need. Here is what to keep in mind.

What to know

• Do not drive until road treatment crews have done their work

• Check conditions before leaving: ReadyCentralTexas.org or call TXDOT at 1-800-452-9292

• Slow down — speed limits are set for ideal, dry conditions

• Increase your following distance from 3 seconds to 8–10 seconds on ice or snow

• Watch for black ice on shaded roads, low-lying areas, bridges, and overpasses

• If stranded, stay in your car and call a tow service or the DPS Stranded Motorist Hotline: 1-800-525-5555

• For emergencies on the road, call 9-1-1

Details

If you must travel, check conditions first at ReadyCentralTexas.org or by calling TXDOT at 1-800-452-9292. Fill up your gas tank before you leave and refuel any time the tank drops below half. Keep your phone charged, tell someone your route and expected arrival time, and stick to major streets and highways when possible — those get cleared first. Plan an alternate route in advance.

Watch for black ice, which forms when temperatures are at or below freezing and looks like dark, wet, or shiny pavement. It is most common on shaded roads, low spots, bridges, and overpasses. If you get stuck, stay in your vehicle — do not walk on an icy road. Call a tow service or the DPS Stranded Motorist Hotline at 1-800-525-5555, or dial DPS (377) from most mobile phones anywhere in Texas. If you are traveling to rural areas, keep blankets, food, and water in your car in case you are stranded for a while. In Central Texas, if you are thinking about snow chains, you should probably just stay home.