New Mexico · Handbook chapter 5 · 4 min read

Slowing for curves, gravel, wet roads, snow and ice, hydroplaning, wildlife on New Mexico roads, keeping pace with traffic, merging and exiting, slow vehicles, trouble spots, stopping distances and the four-second sight distance rule.

Why this chapter matters

The only contact your car has with the road is through the tires. Speeds that are safe on a dry, straight road can be dangerous on a curve, on gravel or in rain. New Mexico's rural roads add wildlife to the list.

Road conditions

• Gravel and dirt give less traction than pavement: slow down, and expect longer stops and easier skids.
• Curves: slow down before the curve so you do not have to brake in it. Braking in a curve can cause a skid.
• Slippery roads: slow at the first sign of rain, snow or sleet.

Clues that a road may be slippery

• Shady spots on cold, wet days freeze first and dry last.
• Bridges and overpasses freeze before other pavement because there is no earth under them.
• Ice near the freezing point is wet and even more slippery.
• In the first few minutes of rain on a hot day, oil rises from the asphalt.

Hydroplaning

Most tires grip well on wet roads up to about 35 mph. Faster, they can ride up on the water. In heavy rain tires can lose all traction at about 50 mph, and worn tires much sooner. If it happens, ease off the gas, keep the wheel straight, and do not brake or turn until the tires grip again. The best prevention is to slow down.

Wildlife

New Mexico has deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, black bears and cougars, and thousands of crashes with large animals happen each year.

• Be most watchful at dawn, dusk and the first hours after dark.
• Watch the road edges and animal crossing signs, and slow down if you see animals that have been hit.
• Assume animals will not get out of your way, and expect more than one where one is crossing.

Adjusting to traffic

• Keep pace with traffic. Speeding saves only a few minutes an hour, and going much slower than others is also dangerous; pull over to let a line of vehicles pass.
• Merging: use the ramp to reach traffic speed. Do not stop at the end of the ramp unless you must.
• Exiting: keep your speed on the main road and slow down on the exit ramp.
• Watch for slow trucks on hills and for farm tractors, animal-drawn vehicles and maintenance vehicles, which usually go 25 mph or less and carry an orange slow-moving vehicle triangle.
• Slow down in trouble spots: shopping centers and downtowns, rush hour, narrow bridges and tunnels, toll plazas, schools, playgrounds and residential streets, and railroad crossings.

How well can you see?

On good tires and dry pavement:

• At night your headlights show about 400 feet, so drive no faster than you can stop in that distance, about 50 mph.
• In very heavy rain, snow or fog you may see only 200 feet, so do not go faster than 30 mph. If you cannot see at all, pull off safely and wait.
• On hills and curves, slow so you can stop for something just out of sight. Give parked cars room.

The four-second sight distance rule

Pick a fixed object as far ahead as you can clearly see and count four seconds. If you reach it before you finish, you are going too fast for your sight distance. Use the same rule at night so you do not overdrive your headlights.