TEMPLE, Texas — Many of us have no choice but to brave the roads to get to work during the storm, but there are ways to make sure you stay safe.
AAA Texas is reminding drivers that traveling in winter conditions such as ice or snow can be challenging. They share tips on how to stay safe if you have to be on the go:
- Deice all windows
- Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage
- Make sure the exhaust pipe isn't clogged with snow, ice or mud
- Keep your gas above half full to avoid the gas line freezing up
- Reduce your speed and leave plenty of room to stop
- Allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the vehicle in front of you
- Brake gently to avoid skidding
"When a vehicle begins to skid, it's important not to panic and just continue to look and steer in the direction you want the car to go," said Daniel Armbruster, AAA Texas spokesperson.
The biggest message from AAA Texas, as well as TxDOT's Waco District, take your time and don't rush your trip.
"Want to stress that even though our crews are working as hard as they are, we cannot stress enough it is important for the public to stay home if they can," said Jake Smith, spokesperson for TxDOT's Waco District.
As the winter storm approaches Central Texas, Smith says crews are on 24 hour shift rotation and patrol mode.
"What they'll do is they'll look for these problem areas and roadways that have precipitation on them; ice or maybe even snow and they'll treat them as they can," he explains.
He says any wintery mix can pose a challenge to keeping roads safe but that's why there is lots of prep and also continued work.
TxDOT crews started treating roads in the area Tuesday.
"Rain can wash away some of the brine and the pretreatment that we put down, however, our crews are always monitoring the forecast and looking for ways they can reapply pretreatment if need be," Smith added.
Smith tells 6 News that TxDOT's focus and resources go to more traveled roads, so the rural roads, farm to markets, and county roads will be more troublesome compared toI-35 and other majorly traveled areas.
TxDOT will continue treating the roads throughout the winter storm and will make them as passable as soon as they can.
You can keep up with road conditions in Central Texas and also around the state here.
but as roads are treated -- that doesn't mean you shouldn't take caution.