Winter Driving Tips for Colorado
Think of winter driving and most people think of Colorado. Colorado has the highest mean elevation of any state in the USA. As a result, winter comes early and stays late. In the Colorado Mountains, it can snow any month of the year. Driving safely in snowy weather is possible in Colorado with a few sensible winter driving tips.♦Drive for the conditionsIf the roads are snow packed, icy, or there is reduced visibility – the best winter driving tip is to slow down and increase your following distance. It will give you time to react to accidents or road conditions. Avoid slamming on the brakes or sudden acceleration – as it could leave you spinning down the highway out of control. For the same reason - don’t use the cruise control.♦Obey signs and road closuresWinter driving in Colorado can be dangerous. Ground blizzards in the plains or mountain snowstorms can cause roads to close due to poor visibility or avalanche danger. Do not drive around road closure gates. They are meant to protect lives in cases of extreme danger. Truckers should obey the chain laws to help stay in control on snow-packed roads. Failure to obey the chain law results in a $1000.00 fine.♦Watch out for CDOT equipmentDuring winter storms, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has enormous snowplows out on the highways. Do not tailgate or pass them closely. They throw out huge plumes of snow. Do not pass them on the right side as they will throw large amounts of snow on your vehicle. Do not drive around snowplows that are stopped and blocking the road. They are probably performing avalanche control and they are trying to save your life. Snowplow drivers havedied in Coloradoprotecting the public.♦Use mountain-driving techniquesWinter driving in the mountains of Colorado is even more challenging than in the summer. Gear down for steep grades so that you do not have to use your brakes. Not all mountain highways have guardrails - you can slide off them. Don’t stop on the road in front of an avalanche chute – a slide could come down. Avalanche chutes are clearly signed along highways and Interstates. If you have a string of cars behind you, pull over and let them by. You’ll have less stress and so will the drivers behind you.♦Carry safety suppliesIf you drive in winter in Colorado, eventually you will find yourself stranded along the road or in an emergency Red Cross shelter. If you drive in winter, carry a blanket, food, shovel, flashlight, gloves, jacket, hat, charged cell phone, and a full tank of gas. Replace your summer washer fluid with winter fluid and keep the reservoir topped off. Let people know your itinerary and schedule. They can call authorities if you are late.♦Prepare your vehicle for winter drivingCheck your vehicle for winter driving. Replace the summer tires with snow tires before the first winter storm. Make sure the 4WD is working. Replace summer wiper blades with winter wiper blades. Make sure your radiator coolant can handle -35 F temperatures so that your radiator doesn’t freeze and burst.♦Know before you goKnow the winter weather driving conditions to expect. Go to the CDOT website atwww.cotrip.orgto check out the road conditions around the state. It has the latest road closures, chain restrictions, and road conditions. You may find the highway you planned on traveling on is closed. Check the webcams to look at conditions and traffic backups.♦Check your ski equipmentCheck to make sure your ski equipment is secure before any winter driving. Skis and snowboards have come loose and landed on Interstate-70. Sometimes they come loose and hit other cars and buses. Equipment can get damaged and people have been killed on roads while trying to retrieve lost equipment.♦Need some video winter driving tips?CDOT has a great video that demonstrates what you can expect in the mountains and on the plains in Colorado.Check it out on YouTube.By following these winter driving tips, you can be safe while driving in Colorado. If you don’t feel safe during the current winter driving conditions, consider staying put until conditions improve. The weather changes rapidly in Colorado and warmer weather often follows winter driving conditions.
