District 2 DOT gears up for winter

• DOT offers safe driving advice for the winter

Crews with the District Two office of the New Mexico Department of Transportation are ready to tackle cold temperatures and snow-covered roads in southeastern New Mexico.

District Two serves 10 counties, Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Guadalupe, Lea, Lincoln, Otero, Roosevelt and Torrance.

“Our crews work extremely hard to keep our roads clear of snow and ice; however, it’s important for drivers to remember to drive to current road conditions and follow all New Mexico laws during inclement weather,” District Two Engineer Timothy Parker said. “This may mean driving slower, obeying road closure signage, which could possibly prevent an accident.”

During the winter season, the District has more than 150 employees and 75 pieces of equipment available for deployment as needed to keep state routes clear and passable.  Last year, the district spent $2.5 million on snow removal and spread over 13,000 tons of salt.

NMDOT offers the following recommendations for safe winter driving:

• Know your current road conditions.  Visit the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s www.nmroads.com website for current road advisory information.  You can also obtain that information by dialing 511 in state or 1-800-432-4269 out of state.
• Make sure your vehicle is in good mechanical condition for winter driving conditions.
• Don’t take a chance if you break down.  Have basic winter supplies in your vehicle as an emergency kit (spare tire, jumper cables, jack, blanket, flashlight, flares, first-aid kit and food and water).
• Wear your seatbelt and make sure all passengers also “buckle up.”
• Be patient.  The best accident prevention on snow and ice is to slow down.  Allow extra time to get to your destination and leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front of you.
• Don’t use cruise control.  Using cruise control in the snow, ice or even rain is dangerous because if your vehicle hydroplanes or skids, it can accelerate and spin the wheels, attempting to maintain a constant speed.
• Whenever your visibility is reduced by rain, snow or fog, slow down and turn on your low-beam headlights or fog lights. Using your high beams only makes visibility worse by increasing the glare.
• If you find yourself using the lights of the vehicle in front of you as a guide to stay on the road, it’s time to pull off the road, stop, turn on your emergency flashers and wait until conditions improve.