Months before Mother Nature trades short sleeves for snowshoes, Caltrans maintenance personnel throughout the Golden State begin preparations for the season’s first flurries.
Know that when you’re leaving San Diego and heading up toward the mountains, Caltrans crews operate on a 24/7 schedule during adverse weather conditions to keep the roads safe.
This video takes viewers behind the scenes as Department maintenance experts shore up more than 1,500 pieces of heavy machinery and snowplows in preparation for their deployment into wintry conditions:
Caltrans Prepares for Snow in 2024
Here are a few trusted driving tips to help Californians stay safe during winter travel.
WINTER DRIVING TIPS
Before you get on the road, go to the Caltrans website and check QuickMap (quickmap.dot.ca.gov) for real-time traffic information or call 1-800-427-ROAD.
Move Over to allow Caltrans maintenance crews, California Highway Patrol officers, and other emergency personnel to perform the important tasks needed to keep the roads open and quickly respond to emergencies.
Turn on your headlights to see and be seen. Be observant and maintain a safe distance behind snow removal equipment. Do not crowd the plow. Do not pass snowplows unless directed to do so by law enforcement or emergency public service personnel.
Be prepared for delays carry extra food, water, blankets, and other essentials, and pack cell phone chargers.
Check your tires. Make sure they are properly inflated, and the tread is in good condition. Always carry chains. Make sure they are the proper size for your tires and are in working order.
Winterize your vehicle. Make sure brakes, windshield wipers, heater/defroster, and exhaust system are in good working order. Make sure fluids are topped off, especially windshield washer fluid.
Reduce your speed to match driving conditions and allow more time to reach your destination. Know that bridges and ramps may be more slippery and icier than the roadway.
Keep your electric vehicle batteries charged and your fuel tank full. Bad weather may cause long delays or closures.
If you start sliding on snow or ice, slowly take your foot off the gas pedal and steer in the direction you wish to travel. Do not lock your brakes—pump the brakes if needed or apply steady pressure if your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes.
The Caltrans website provides additional winter safe driving tips and more information about Caltrans’ efforts to prepare the transportation system for seasonal weather.
