Winter Driving Tips
PREPARE YOUR VEHICLE
- Keep your gas tank and fluids full
- Check your head lights
- Check your tires
- Check your battery
- Have a winter survival kit which includes – flashlight, hand warmer packets, blankets, first
aid supplies, high energy snacks, non-perishable food, bottled water, shovel, scraper, and battery booster cables.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
Check road conditions so you can plan the safest route. Delays are common during bad weather. Leave a little earlier and be patient with delays.
Visit the NMDOT website for current road advisory information at www.nmroads.com, or dial 511 in the state, or 1-800-432-4269.
"BUCKLE UP" AND REDUCE YOUR SPEED
Make sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained. The best accident prevention on snow and ice is to SLOW DOWN. It gives you plenty of time to react to hazards and possibly control your vehicle better.
DON'T USE CRUISE CONTROL
Never use cruise control when the roads are in slippery and icy conditions. Using your cruise control can reduce your control of the vehicle if your tires begin to skid or slip.
DON'T CROWD THE PLOW AND INCREASE YOUR DISTANCE
Plow drivers have limited visibility and cannot see directly behind their trucks. Give the snow plow room to work and stay at least 5 car lengths away. Allow plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. Snowy and icy conditions require ten to four times more distance to stop.
