As our state battles unprecedented winter weather, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Brownwood District is urging drivers to stay home, only travel if necessary and avoid what experts are predicting to be treacherous conditions.
TxDOT crews are pretreating with brine and will transition to other treatments as conditions dictate. Forecasters warn unprecedented lows and precipitation will cause severe impacts to travel.
Treatment will not be able to stop the surfaces from freezing; however, it will help in getting roadways back to normal conditions faster than without them.
While TxDOT crews do their best, it is up to drivers to do their part as well. Motorists are encouraged to delay travel if it all possible. When travel cannot be delayed or avoided, TxDOT encourages drivers to plan ahead by checking weather forecasts and visiting DriveTexas.org (or call 800-452-9292) to see conditions and closures.
The safety of the traveling public is TxDOT’s number one priority, and crews will continue their work monitoring and treating roadways, bridges, and overpasses throughout our region’s continued winter weather events. Stay aware of weather conditions, as they can change rapidly.
Driving in inclement weather is strongly discouraged. If you must travel, we offer these safety tips:
- If you don’t have to travel, stay home.
- Give yourself additional time to reach your destination.
- Be considerate and share the road with others.
- Drive to conditions, wear your seat belt at all times, don’t use cruise control, reduce speed and increase travel distance between your vehicle and others on the road.
- Drive with your headlights on day and night to increase visibility.
- Carry an emergency kit (with food, water, blankets, etc.) in your vehicle.
- Do not drive through whiteout conditions, such as a snow cloud, which may be caused by crosswinds or snowplows.
- Give extra space to vehicles that may be parked on the side of the road. Move over a lane when you see a vehicle with its flashing lights on, such as a tow truck, law enforcement vehicle, emergency vehicle, or TxDOT vehicle.
- Keep a full tank of gas in case of unexpected delays.