COLO. (KKTV) — The Colorado Department of Transportation has a message for drivers to head home as early as possible today because of the storm and potential for road closures.
Our 11 Breaking Weather team is warning of blizzard like conditions along the front range.
CDOT says they will proactively close highways for the safety of travelers. Road crews and our own meteorologists have been saying that you need to avoid driving during the storm.
CDOT just sent out another alert saying if possible, leave early to avoid driving during the storm this afternoon and evening. Remember to take it slow and leave plenty of room behind plows and other cars.
Make sure to keep an emergency kit with food, water, blankets and extra clothes in your car.
Click here to check the road conditions.
Here are some other travel tips from CDOT:
• Always keep the top half of your gas tank full. It can give you better traction and
gives you a bigger margin of error if you get stuck and have to keep the engine
running periodically to keep warm.
• If you are stuck in a serious storm do not leave your car. Run the engine periodically and wait for help.
• Carry blankets, water, a flashlight, a shovel, some nutrition bars or other food for sustenance. Winterize your vehicle’s safety kit by including extra blankets, sand to help gain traction in the event you become stuck on ice or snow, jumper cables, an ice scraper and lock de-icer.
• Remember that 4-wheel drive does not mean 4-wheel stop. A 4-wheel drive vehicle will not stop any better in icy conditions, especially if you have inadequate snow tires.
• Know the chain laws. Chain restrictions in Colorado are most often put into effect for commercial vehicles (semi-trailer trucks).
• Drive for the conditions. In poor visibility or even whiteout conditions, don’t drive faster than you can see ahead. High speeds in poor or no visibility can lead to large chain reaction accidents.
• In addition to these winter driving tips, CDOT reminds all motorists to conduct a pre-trip inspection of your vehicle, leave extra space between your automobile and others on the road (including plow trucks). Of course, always buckle up!
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