Winter weather in the neighboring states of Utah and Nevada can bring harsh and ever-changing road conditions. The Department of Transportation works hard and effectively to clear roads for safe winter travel, with maintenance experts plowing and applying anti-icing and deicing chemicals and sand to keep winter roads safe for winter driving. Whether you are traveling to Las Vegas, St. George or further north, here are some winter driving tips from the Nevada Department of Transportation:

• Only travel in winter weather when necessary, leave enough time to safely reach your destination and plan your route to avoid snowy/icy areas and steep hills

• Before leaving home, check weather and road conditions by dialing 511 within Nevada (or 1-877-NV-ROADS outside of Nevada)

• Turn on headlights to see and be seen

• Share your travel itinerary so others know when to expect you

• Remove snow and ice from all vehicle windows, mirrors, lights, turn signals and license plates

• Buckle up

• Avoid quick starts, stops and fast turns. Accelerate, brake and steer smoothly and gradually

• Reduce speed. Speed limits are based on normal road and weather conditions, not winter road conditions

• Do not slam on brakes. Apply steady pressure on ABS-equipped vehicles and pump the brakes if necessary on non-ABS vehicles

• If your vehicle has snow tires, install and use them between October 1 and April 30

• Keep additional distance from other vehicles

• Turn off cruise control

• Watch carefully for snow removal equipment

• Do not pass without good distance and sight clearance

• Use extra caution on bridges, ramps, overpasses and shaded areas- they may freeze first

• Maintain a high fuel level

• If vehicle begins to skid, steer in direction of slide and slowly remove foot from accelerator

• Be aware of black ice

• Always carry tire chains, especially when traveling in mountain passes or typically snowy areas

• Remember – 4-wheel-drive vehicles cannot necessarily turn or stop any better than 2-wheel-drive vehicles

For more winter driving tips, visit the state Department of Transportation website.

In the past two months, 10 troopers have been hit on Utah’s roads, said UHP Col. Danny Fuhr, and eight patrol vehicles have been totaled. The financial cost of the crashes and the strain they put on the agency’s limited manpower are staggering, Fuhr said. But those aren’t the primary reasons the agency is asking drivers to slow down and move over. Continue Reading »