Icy Weather Conditions Closes N13 Road through the Buffalo Pass

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BUFFALO PASS NAVAJO NATION – The Navajo Division of Transportation Department of Roads has closed N13 through Buffalo Pass because of dangerous icy conditions.

Navajo Division of Transportation Department of Roads NDOT Department of Roads

Navajo Division of Transportation encourages motorists to find alternative routes for their travel destinations in the area.

“Department of Roads will be blading the road on January 29,”

said Roscoe Tsosie, senior heavy equipment operator.

“Right now, the road conditions are too dangerous for travelers, so we closed the road,”

Tsosie said.

“Our crews will be out with the snow plow tomorrow morning.”

An accident occurred on this stretch of road on January 18, during similar weather conditions. Speed was a factor.

In addition to wearing seatbelts and cautious driving, NDOT offers the following winter driving tips:

Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember that it takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
Drive slowly.
The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to 10 seconds.
Know your brakes. Apply threshold braking, keeping the heel of your foot on the floor and using the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
Don't stop if you can avoid it. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until traffic changes, do it.
Don't power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning.
Don't stop going up a hill. Thereâ€™s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road.
Stay home. If you really don't have to go out, don't.

posted January 29, 2013 3:10 pm est