{"id":37153,"date":"2021-02-12T22:17:40","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T22:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vailvalleypartnership.com\/?p=37153"},"modified":"2021-02-12T22:17:40","modified_gmt":"2021-02-12T22:17:40","slug":"mid-winter-check-in-traffic-down-but-motorists-must-remain-winter-wise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vailvalleypartnership.com\/2021\/02\/mid-winter-check-in-traffic-down-but-motorists-must-remain-winter-wise\/","title":{"rendered":"Mid-winter check-in: Traffic down, but motorists must remain Winter Wise"},"content":{"rendered":"
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February 11, 2021 – Statewide News – CDOT offers Presidents Day weekend travel tips<\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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To download CDOT\u2019s\u00a0Winter Wise<\/em>\u00a0safety education materials, click here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

STATEWIDE<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Presidents Day weekend historically means traffic-jammed roads on the I-70 mountain corridor as Coloradans flock to the mountains for the holiday weekend. While traffic through the Eisenhower and Johnson tunnels is down this year, motorists still must prepare their vehicles for hazardous winter driving conditions.<\/p>\n

From October 2020 to January 2021, roughly 3.9 million drivers traveled through the tunnels \u2014 a nearly 6% decrease from the 4.2 million drivers during the same period last year.\u00a0Despite less congestion along the corridor, drivers still need to prepare for winter weather and make sure their vehicles and tires are ready for treacherous driving conditions.\u00a0Between October 2020 and January 2021, CDOT has activated the Traction Law 81 times on the I-70 mountain corridor. Preliminary data shows 136 passenger vehicle crashes were reported during this period, resulting in about 96 hours of partial and full-lane closure time. Additionally, 48 non-crash emergency responses (mechanical issues, fires, spinouts\/slideoffs) were reported, causing almost 27 hours of closure time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe consider Presidents Day the unofficial midpoint of winter and use this opportunity to review our data to see how it translates to safe winter driving,\u201d said Andrew Hogle, CDOT public information officer. \u201cWinter driving preparedness is something every Coloradan should take seriously, even for short trips. Winter driving safety has nothing to do with the distance of your trip or number of cars on the road \u2014 it\u2019s about how your car handles snow and ice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colorado\u2019s Traction Law requires that all motorists have either an all-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicle, winter tires (mountain-snowflake icon), tires with an all-weather rating, or mud\/snow tires (M+S icon). If a vehicle has neither all-wheel, four-wheel drive or the adequate tires mentioned above, it must have chains or an approved alternative traction device. See a list of approved alternative traction devices here.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Traction Law also requires a minimum of three-sixteenths of an inch tread depth for tires on all vehicles \u2014 including those with four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.\u00a0In addition, from Sept. 1 to May 31, all vehicles traveling on I-70 between Morrison and Dotsero must follow the Traction Law or carry chains or an approved alternative traction device.<\/strong>\u00a0If the weather worsens, CDOT will activate the Chain Law, requiring all vehicles to have chains or an approved alternative traction device. For more Traction Law and Chain Law information and downloadable materials, visit\u00a0codot.gov\/travel\/winter-driving\/tractionlaw<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Traction Law can be wordy and confusing, but at its core, the law asks Coloradans to have the required tires and tread depth to limit delays and road closures and to keep everyone safe,\u201d said Hogle.<\/p>\n

CDOT implemented highway safety closures 216 times on I-70 between October 2020 and January 2021 and deployed 929 courtesy patrols. CDOT can call a safety closure if winter weather becomes dangerous and the probability increases for traffic incidents, congestion or other safety-related factors. During a safety closure, traffic may be stopped on the interstate, turned around or directed to an exit. Safety closures help decrease delay times and, above all, keep people safe. To view and download CDOT\u2019s safety closure informational video, visit\u00a0bit.ly\/CDOTSafetyClosureVideo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Coloradans should also be aware of the Tandem Snowplow Law, which makes it illegal to pass a group of snowplows operating in tandem formation (arranged diagonally). Violating the law is a Class A traffic offense and can result in fines.<\/p>\n

CDOT urges people to remain mindful of current COVID-19 guidelines, but if Coloradans choose to travel during Presidents Day weekend, CDOT is offering motorists the following tips and reminders:<\/p>\n